The Sedona Fire District and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday, July 29, that a 1-year-old boy died in a drowning at a home near Bell Rock Boulevard and Verde Valley School Road in the Village of Oak Creek on the evening of Saturday, July 27.
“The call originally came through Cottonwood PD, so we received the call at 6:02 p.m. and arrived on scene at 6:10 p.m.,” YCSO Public Affairs and Government Relations Director Kristin Greene said.
Sedona Fire District crews began CPR and advanced life-saving measures for the boy once crews arrived on scene around 6:06 p.m. according to SFD Risk Reduction Division Chief Dori Booth.
“The preliminary investigation found that the family was inside the home when they realized the baby was missing for several minutes,” according to the YCSO announcement. “The father came out to see the sliding door to the backyard open and found the child unresponsive in the unfenced pool.”
No contributing factors or foul play was identified, according to Greene.
“Despite their efforts and the close coordination with physicians at Verde Valley Medical Center, the child was transported by ambulance to VVMC where, tragically, the infant did not survive,” according to the SFD press release.
At least five YCSO deputies, two SFD fire trucks, an ambulance, a battalion chief were eventually on scene. A Native Air medevac helicopter landed at Big Park Community School for possible airlift operations.
The last SFD unit was cleared and back in their quarters by 8:30 p.m. that evening.
“The Sedona Fire District extends its deepest condolences and wishes strength and healing to the family and all those affected during this difficult time,” Booth stated.
