Crime & Safety

Near-Drowning At Greenwich Club; 2 Year Old Revived On Scene

Two doctors who happen to belong to the club are credited with resuscitating the boy.


A 2-year-old boy was pulled from the water of one of the pools at the Greenwich Club Friday after his mother saw him floating face down, according to the police. He was revived due to quick action by two doctors who happen to be members who were on the scene.

The mother pulled the child, who appeared lifeless, out of the water, aided by two lifeguards. The doctors administered rescue breaths and performed CPR on the child, according to police. After approximately two minutes, the toddler took two gasping breaths.

"Last seen, he was alert and crying in his mom's arms," said Club Manager Paul Donnelly. The boy was taken by rescue to Hasbro Children's Hosptial. There is no official word on his condition.

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It's unclear how the boy ended up in the pool, known as the middle pool. It is an intermediate pool that is 3 feet deep. According to the boy's aunt, he usually wears a bubble when he's in the pool and he did not have the bubble on when he was found.

The boy's great aunt, who was there at the time of the accident, said she heard her neice, the mother, call out and saw her jump into the pool.

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"She jumped in and he's floating in the water," the woman said. But he was revived quickly, she said. "He was pink, his pupils were good."

"We were at the right place at the right time," said the boy's grandfather, noting with gratitude that two doctors just happened to be there.

Two hours after the incident, nerves were still on edge. "Everyone's rattled," said Donnelly. Off-duty lifeguards had arrived to take over for the two lifeguards who were involved in the rescue.

According to a press release issued by police, the two doctors were identified as Victor Pinkes and Jeannine Connolly.

Donnelly praised them and EG police and fire, which he said, arrived "within a minute and a half or two."

He said he did not know of any previous drowning incidents at the pool.


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