A four-year-old girl has died after she and five other children were left unsupervised in a swimming pool while two women went to a bar for food and drinks, police have said.
The incident occurred at the Deer Lake Athletic Club in Independence Township, Michigan, around 40 miles north-west of Detroit. The two women, who have not been identified, brought six children aged 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4 to the pool on 30 January. They left the children with flotation devices and spent 35 minutes ordering food and drinks at a bar, according to a preliminary report from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
The four-year-old was pulled from the water by her sister. Police arriving at the scene found children on the deck while CPR was being administered by two men and a woman. Paramedics rushed the girl to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The pool was between three and five feet deep, and investigators found pool toys and swimming noodles but no life jackets.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard said: 'This is a horrific and tragic death that easily could have been avoided. We always encourage that not only is there an adult present for any children swimming activity, but one adult is specifically tasked with watching and not just in the area.'
An investigation has been launched and a report sent to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. Deer Lake Athletic Club expressed profound sadness and said it is cooperating fully with authorities.
