Lifetime Fitness - Child drowns

That is so sad. I think to loose your child is the worse thing that might happen to us as humans. We feel guilty enough when they are alive and well!

From what my friend told me (she knows the parents) the boy was enrolled in a swim class so he was not left there alone, but was taken to swim class, checked in with the instructor, only to learn that somewhere during the session he drowns during the swim class. I have no idea how Lifetime Fitness works their swim lesson program? Maybe people can check the child in then go over to they gym part and work out? Unsure how that works?? I've never been to a Lifetime Fitness myself. I know from my sons swim lessons I am a few feet away at all times (however those are one-on-one instructions and through Infant Swim Resource - completely different I'd imagine.) I know the article does not give much info and I'm sure Lifetime Fitness probably is trying to keep it quiet (as I'd imagine that is bad PR). Regardless...it's still so tragic.

LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 9 months and 3 years old.

It's kind of ironic because I just requested information on Lifetime Fitness a few days ago in regards to whether they would be opening a location near where I live, because there are only 3 in Arizona and they are no where near where I live.

What makes this even more inexcusable than it already is is that there were 7 lifeguards on duty, I googled this article and found that out:

KVUE's Jessica Vess reports
06/16/2008

"An Austin area family is mourning the death of their 4-year-old son.

Family pictures show a boy with a smile full of life, but the life of Colin Holst was cut short when he was doing something he loved to do -- swim.

Holst died Saturday at Dell Children’s Medical Center after nearly drowning in the outdoor pool at Lifetime Fitness on South MoPac on Friday.

Holst's family says they are coping with his death by celebrating his life.

“Colin could have easily attempted to outrun his angels, but instead he knew the course of his race was to lead them on a chase to his Lord, where he was the first to arrive,” said Jeff Holst, father, in an e-mail.

There were seven lifeguards on duty at the outdoor pool where Holst was swimming Friday afternoon -- full staff for the facility. Travis County EMS says one of those lifeguards noticed Holst was in trouble in the water, pulled him out and called for help. Other lifeguards started performing CPR, while paramedics were called.

The EMS crew continued CPR on the way to the hospital and restored a pulse. Then Holst was put in rapid cooling therapy to put him into a coma, hoping that would help his recovery. He died the next day.

A corporate spokesperson for Lifetime Fitness calls Holst's death a tragic accident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time,” said Jason Thumstrom, Lifetime Fitness, “In the face of such an incident -- and an outcome of course none of us were hoping for -- the team is taking it pretty hard.”

A pool safety inspector with Travis County Health Services inspected the facility Monday afternoon. There were no indications that Lifetime Fitness was in violation of state codes that could have prevented the boy’s death. Holst’s drowning death was the first at a Lifetime Fitness gym in the State of Texas. Thumstrom says there was one other drowning death in a different state.

Doctors at Dell Children's Medical Center say even a safe pool can be dangerous.

"It just takes a very short amount of time for a child to be gone. No one knows where they are and then five minutes later they're found face down in the pool,” said Dr. Joanne Adams, Dell Children’s Medical Center.

Already in 2008, doctors at Dell Children’s have reported nearly four times as many child drowning deaths and near deaths than in 2007. Most of those victims were toddlers between one and 4-years-old."

I would be interested in hearing more details as it leaves me wondering why the instructor wouldn't have been in direct sight of all of the children including him if she/he was instructing a class.

If it was indeed a situation where you check your child in and then are free to leave to use another area of the facility I would think that a parent would want to stay nearby until they were confident the child was under the direct supervision of the instructor.

I take my daughter to private lessons with only 3 children total in the class and I sit behind the glass watching her, however there is a life guard on duty walking around the pool through out the entire sessions with a watchful eye on all of the classes that are being conducted.

I'm so very sorry for your friends loss; how terrible!!

How incredibly sad and unfortunate. It would be interesting to find out the end report on this happening after the investigation and all. There are just never enough sets of eyes when kids are around water. You literally have to be standing next to them at all times. If 7 life guards aren't enough how many are?

How tragic. That would be the hardest thing to go through.

soccermom of a 12 yr old boy and 15 yr old young lady

We are members of Lifetime in Scottsdale. I have never seen more than 4 kids in a swim class. So the ratios have always seemed very good. Then, of course, plus the instructors, there are all the lifeguards. And they are always walking around the deck and standing on the deck at the edge of the pool (not just "up in the chair" as the article described).

Horrific.

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 7 yr. old daughter and a 5 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

I can't imagine anything more horrible. My prayers go out to that family.

Hobbymommy, 38, is a discussion leader from Mesa. She is a happy stay-at-home mommy to a 3-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son.

This incident did not occur during a swim lesson. My kids are in swim lessons there and they all are in the indoor pool with the instructor teaching only 3-4 kids with the parents in the water with their kids. We are members of the club and know someone that knows a lifeguard there. Evidently the mother was close by in the pool. She also had a 6 or 7 year old daughter in the pool. It just reminds you that you should not let your toddlers out of your sight at anytime near a pool and socialize less if they are in the pool
Paul P.

I have friends who are members of this Austin Lifetime Fitness and as a previous comment mentioned, the child was not participating in a swim lesson but was swimming during family swim time. The mother was apparently in a different part of the pool. There were many life guards on duty but tragically, none of them had a view that enabled them to see that this child was drowning. Horrible.

My child took swim lessons at Lifetime and I sat and watched. I wondered if I was being silly but now I will trust my instincts and continue to do so when he takes more lessons.