Four-Year-Old Boy in Critical Condition after Near-Drowning in Cruise Ship Pool

A 4-year-old child who nearly drowned in a cruise ship pool Saturday afternoon had wandered away from his mother and was "swept away" in a wave pool for approximately six minutes before a guest noticed the boy, according to details released by authorities.

A frantic search was already underway aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas as the child's mother alerted the ship's authorities after realizing he was missing on the 15th deck of the ship. The ship had departed from Port Everglades about an hour earlier.

The Broward Sheriff's Office investigated and determined the incident was an accident, Mike Jachles, spokesman for Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, said Sunday.

As the search ensued, a guest spotted the child underwater and motioned to a man in the pool. That swimmer plucked the child from the water and handed him to bystanders on deck who attempted to resuscitate the boy. The ship's medical staff soon arrived and took over CPR and then took the boy to the infirmary, where the boy's pulse was restored.

The ship returned to port Saturday evening and the child was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale where he remained in critical condition Sunday, according to hospital spokeswoman Carthy Thomas.

The boy was identified by authorities as Ascanio Azzia, from Italy. The boy was traveling with his two parents and his sibling, Jachles said.

Most cruise ships do not have lifeguards, said Andrew Coggins, a cruise industry expert who teaches about the hospitality and tourism industry at Pace University. Coggins said he knows of only one company, the Disney Cruise Line, that staffs lifeguards at pools.

"Royal Caribbean does not have lifeguards stationed at our pools," spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said in an email Sunday. "Signs are always posted that warn passengers to swim at their own risk, similar to what you'd see at many hotels."

Coggins said cruise companies should consider having lifeguards on hand, especially when there are a high number of children on board. He also said the industry should consider requiring younger children to wear flotation devices in pool areas.

Source: The Sun Sentinel