Four-year old boy critical after nearly drowning on cruise ship
A four year old boy is in a critical condition in a Florida hospital after nearly drowning in a cruise ship wave pool, sparking renewed calls for the cruise industry to deploy lifeguards on all ships.
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas had just departed Port Everglades when the boy "was swept away" in the wave pool and was reportedly underwater for nearly six minutes before being spotted by another passenger, according to Broward Fire-Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles.
"The mother frantically searched for her child but was unable to see him enter a wave pool; this appears to have been an accident," Jachles said.
The boy, who was named as Ascanio Azzia, was assisted by other guests who performed CPR before the ship’s medical team took over.
"The ship’s infirmary is very well equipped to handle a critical situation," Jachles said.
The ship altered course immediately and returned to port where the boy was admitted to a children’s hospital at Broward Medical Health Center.
Andrew Coggins, a cruise industry expert who teaches tourism studies at Pace University said all ships should deploy lifeguards and also consider making children wear flotation vests around the pool areas.
"As a parent, you always have to keep an eye out," Coggins said.
There have been several incidents involving young children in recent years, including a March 2013 near drowning of a four year old aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship.
That incident sparked a change of policy on Disney cruise ships and it remains the only cruise line that deploys lifeguards.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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