Tuesday, Aug. 19, 1997 | 9:49 a.m.
A 9-year-old girl remained hospitalized in very critical condition this morning after nearly drowning in the wave pool at the Wet 'n Wild water park on the Strip.
Four lifeguards were on duty about 3 p.m. Monday when one of them spotted the child floating face down in about 4 feet of water and dove in to rescue her, said Dan Bradley, marketing director of the park.
The lifeguard placed the child face up on the guard's stomach and secured her with a tube-like flotation device, then swam on her back to the side of the pool, Bradley said. A second guard assisted in the water by performing a maneuver to get ingested water out, and air into, the child.
Once poolside, lead guards continued resuscitation efforts until paramedics arrived and took the child, accompanied by her father, to Columbia Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Ann Lynch, a hospital spokeswoman, said the child remained in very critical condition this morning. Her identity has not been released.
"We were told that when the child left here, there was a heartbeat," Bradley said. "The lifeguards who were involved and the staff are very upset about this. It's been difficult getting all the details of what happened. We're trying to compile everything, but we don't want to put pressure on some of these people right now."
Wet 'n Wild transported the child's family to their home, Bradley said, and had a company official at the hospital overnight.
Authorities are not sure how long the child had been underwater when she was found, nor what may have caused the accident.
The water park's computer-generated waves were programmed to a height of 1 to 2 feet, but Bradley could not confirm what interval they were coming in at during the eight-minute period or the number of people in the water at the time.
Officials could not say Monday night why it was that the guards did not notice the child in distress until after the wave machine had shut down for an eight-minute break.
Wet 'n Wild is conducting its own internal examination of the incident in addition to an ongoing investigation by Metro Police.
The wave pool is ranked at what Bradley described as "level three," meaning that riders are required to have strong swimming skills to handle what could be aggressive and strenuous wave conditions.
Recreationalists are not required to sign any waivers or releases to play in the park, despite the potential for injury. There is also no age limit or skill level mandated before one can enter the 15,000-square-foot wave pool, which at its deepest is 9 feet.
Wet 'n Wild said it has never had a fatality or near-drowning since it opened in 1985. Bradley said lifeguards have performed rescues before -- "everything from swimmers who've lost their suits to those who need a little help."
It is up to the parents or guardians accompanying children at the park to supervise them, especially if they are not strong swimmers, Bradley said.
Four lifeguards man the wave pool -- two at the shallow end and two at the deep end -- and are required to stand up on their elevated stations while the wave machine is in action and scan the pool looking right to left every 10 seconds, Bradley said.
Training typically sees a lifeguard candidate 16 years or older ready to guard within seven days. The instruction, provided on-site, includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic first aid, water training and park ride orientation.
Candidates are also required to pass a swim test and dive to various depths in the pool. Stronger swimmers and divers are appointed to posts in the deeper areas of the park, Bradley said.
Counselors were made available Monday to any employees needing emotional support after the near-drowning.
Park fees for children 9 and under are $16.95 per person, and $22.95 for those 10 and older.
Bradley said the park does not release its specific attendance figures, but averages about a half-million visitors a year.
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