Early days of summer plagued by drownings

Despite this summer officially being less than two weeks old, a number of drownings and near-drownings have already occurred within and around Wake County.

Last week, a 2-year-old boy died after drowning in a pool at a home in Wendell. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office later posted a condolence message to Deputy Jose Perez-Apodaca and indicated that boy who drowned was his son.

The infant was found in the pool June 25. EMS and local firefighters performed CPR on the boy, who was pulled from the pool at about 9:45 a.m., but the sheriff’s office reported at 5:30 that evening that the boy had died.

Just three days prior, a 13-year-old boy died in Johnston County after drowning in Tucker Lake near Benson.

Henry Diaz Padilla, of Durham, drowned around 1 p.m. and died while being transported to the hospital in an ambulance.

“Henry was loved by all that crossed his path,” Diane Bell, a friend of the family, said in a message included in a GoFundMe page raising money for the family. “He had the biggest heart and sweetest loving spirit, an incredible and cherished young man.”

Two separate drownings have already occurred at Jordan Lake in Chatham County so far this year. The first came May 26 when Bryan Guzman, 16, of Winston-Salem drowned while celebrating a friend’s birthday party over Memorial Day weekend.

Just two weeks later, 25-year-old Pradip Kumar Bhujel, of Charlotte, died after he waded out into the water after dark while he and some of his friends were fishing.

The Neuse River has also seen two drownings so far this swim season. One man died in late May after he failed to resurface after going underwater while swimming with a friend near the Neuse River Greenway Trail.

The other victim drowned on June 8 while swimming with his family near the same section of the Neuse River. The group was swimming near the Raleigh Beach portion of the river’s banks when the man went underwater and did not emerge. His body was found later that evening.

The state Department of Health and Human Services has shared some tips on how swimmers can stay safe this summer while also helping to ensure the safety of those around them.

The department recommends designating one responsible adult for every five children in the water. It says that unlike the flailing depicted on television or in movies, a drowning child is more likely to slip silently underwater, which can be barely noticeable until it is too late.

When it comes to swimming in freshwater lakes and rivers, there are specific measures that swimmers can take to mitigate the danger they face during a day out with family or friends.

The department says to avoid entering into swift currents that can quickly turn deadly, to avoid jumping from rock to rock near the shore, and to wear an appropriately-sized life jacket whenever possible.

Experts also recommend entering the water feet first as opposed to diving, and to avoid swimming while intoxicated.

“Drowning deaths are tragic and preventable,” Dr. Susan Kansagra, senior deputy director for the North Carolina Division of Public Health, said. “Now is the time to take simple steps to prevent drownings and stay safe and healthy wherever you and your family or friends gather for water recreation activities.”

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