Hastings Aquacourt Water Park, (City of Hastings, Courtesy)
HASTINGS — A 13-year-old Japanese native who was visiting Hastings as part of a international exchange program has died several days after being rescued from the Hastings Aquacourt.
According to a release from the Hastings International Exchange Organization, the Ozu, Japan native died at 12:38 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
“We also hope that citizens of Ozu, including the students who traveled to Hastings, and those who witnessed the events can find the strength to heal from this tragedy,” the release stated.
According to the Hastings Police Department, officers and Hastings Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the Hastings Water Park on July 31 at 1:30 p.m.
The nature of the call was an unconscious juvenile girl with CPR in progress.
Arriving at the scene, Hastings Fire and Rescue took over performing life saving measures on the girl, which included CPR and AED administration. She was later taken by ambulance to Mary Lanning Healthcare in critical condition, according to the Hastings Police.
Upon preliminary investigation, video evidence shows that the 13-year-old walking from the shallow end of the pool and crossing the rope into the deep end of the pool.
She became fully submerged under water in the deep end and failed to resurface. Lifeguards are seen removing her from the pool and administering life saving measures until officials arrive.
The girl was taken to Mary Lanning Healthcare and later transferred to Omaha.
The incident led to the early closure of the Hastings Aquacourt for the rest of the summer season.
The Blue Hills Aquatic Center announced it would honor season passes from the Hastings Aquacourt for the remainder of the season.
