Philadelphia Boy’s Family Sues Over City Pool Drowning

The family of a 7-year-old old boy who died the day after he was discovered at the bottom of Philadelphia-owned pool has sued the city and a company whose camp counselors were supervising children that day.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports Thursday’s lawsuit targets the city and Traveler’s Aid, which provided camp counselors that day.

The Common Pleas wrongful death suit contends 7-year-old Ja’briel O’Connor was allowed into the pool without a flotation device on July 18 even though officials allegedly knew he couldn’t swim.

The lawsuit contends at least some of the lifeguards weren’t in their proper positions, and were throwing one another into the pool before the boy was found unconscious.

The city has said it had adequate staff on duty, including four lifeguards on deck and four counselors watching about 30 children.