A quiet Palo Alto community was shaken over the holiday weekend when a 7-year-old child drowned in a private residential pool at the Barron Square condominium complex. Two adults who attempted to rescue the child were also seriously injured and remain in critical condition, according to authorities.
Emergency services were dispatched to the 4100 block of Thain Way just before 6 p.m. Sunday evening after receiving a 911 call reporting multiple individuals in distress in the pool. According to Palo Alto Fire Chief Kevin McNally, the incident has deeply impacted both the local community and first responders.
“This is a tough call,” McNally said. “Anything involving children — it hits home for a lot of folks. We have a lot of young parents.” The fire department confirmed that the 7-year-old was pulled from the water and transported to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, where the child was pronounced dead. The two adults were taken to Stanford Hospital for treatment of critical injuries sustained during the attempted rescue.
The incident occurred at the pool in the Barron Square residential complex, which consists of 65 condominiums and townhomes. It remains unclear how long the child had been underwater or what led to the series of events. Chief McNally stated that another child may have been present and possibly called for help, but details are still under investigation.
One major concern is whether the pool had any form of lifeguard supervision or a designated safety monitor at the time of the incident. Experts like Rachel Del Monte, COO of YMCA Silicon Valley, emphasize that many private and hotel pools do not have lifeguards, leaving guests at increased risk. “You should certainly only go to pools that have lifeguards,” she stated. Unfortunately, that precaution is rarely enforced at private community pools like the one at Barron Square.
Tragedies like the one in Palo Alto also spotlight the dangers that arise when untrained individuals attempt water rescues. According to Daniel Maxwell, a former police dive team member and current lecturer, entering a pool without proper swimming ability or rescue training can place multiple lives at risk.
“If you’re going to be with a kid near a pool, you have to make sure that they’re going to be safe and that you’re going to be safe,” said Maxwell. “If they don’t know how to swim, they really shouldn’t be going anywhere near a pool.”
He and other safety experts advise following the “Reach, Throw, Go” method in rescue situations: reach out with an object, throw a floatation device, and only enter the water as a last resort.
Private residential pools may not be subject to the same regulatory oversight as public facilities, but they are not exempt from responsibility. Pool operators, HOAs, and property managers have a legal duty to ensure their pools are reasonably safe for use. This includes installing adequate fencing, ensuring functioning safety equipment is available, posting pool rules, and—ideally—hiring trained lifeguards or staff to oversee pool use during high-traffic hours.
When a child drowns and adults are seriously injured at a facility lacking appropriate safety protocols, civil liability becomes a real possibility. Questions that may arise in legal proceedings include:
Was the pool compliant with local and state safety regulations?
Was safety signage clearly visible?
Was there any supervision or oversight during pool hours?
Were flotation devices or lifesaving tools readily available?
Even if criminal wrongdoing is not suspected, civil litigation may be necessary to hold the responsible parties accountable and to ensure that future tragedies are prevented.
At Aquatic Attorneys, we represent families devastated by pool-related injuries and fatalities. Led by renowned trial attorney Michael Haggard, Esq., our firm specializes in holding negligent property owners and managers accountable for unsafe aquatic environments—whether at private residences, apartment complexes, or resort pools.
We work closely with experts to investigate every angle of a case, from pool design to maintenance practices, supervision policies, and emergency preparedness. Our goal is not only to pursue justice for our clients but to create safer conditions for all families.
If you or someone you love has been affected by a drowning or near-drowning accident, don’t navigate the aftermath alone. Contact Aquatic Attorneys today for a free and confidential consultation. Your path to accountability and healing can begin with a single call.
Source:
https://www.ktvu.com/news/child-dies-after-drowning-palo-alto-pool
