Five-Year-Old Rescued from Water at Connecticut State Park

# Child Rescued from Indian Well State Park Waters, Remains in Serious Condition

In a harrowing incident at one of Connecticut’s popular recreational areas, emergency responders rescued an unconscious five-year-old child from the waters of Indian Well State Park in Shelton.

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The child had entered the water from the boat launch dock on Tuesday afternoon. Alert bystanders quickly spotted the child and notified park staff, sparking a rapid emergency response.

Emergency Response at Indian Well State Park

The situation unfolded around 4 p.m. on Tuesday. What started as a regular summer day at this busy Shelton spot quickly turned into chaos.

Swift Action by Bystanders and First Responders

Witnesses said bystanders wasted no time in alerting park staff after seeing the child in distress. Staff from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), along with Shelton police and fire departments, responded quickly to the emergency call.

Their fast action led to the rescue of the unconscious child from the water. First responders jumped into life-saving measures right there, showing just how crucial emergency training is for park staff.

Training like this is pretty standard across state parks in towns like Hamden, Waterbury, and New Haven. You’d hope it never needs to be used, but here, it clearly mattered.

Medical Response and Current Condition

After the rescue, emergency medical services rushed the child to Griffin Hospital by ambulance. The child’s condition was serious enough that they transferred them to Yale New Haven Hospital for specialized pediatric care.

As of Wednesday, hospital officials said the child remained in serious condition. The child’s mother was also taken to the hospital, but they haven’t shared details about her status.

This story has rippled through communities in Bridgeport, Hartford, and Norwalk. Many families in these areas spend their summers at parks just like this one.

Water Safety Concerns at State Parks

The location of the rescue brings up some real safety questions for visitors at Connecticut’s state parks. The child was found several hundred feet from the main beach area at Indian Well State Park, in a section with no lifeguards on duty.

Community Reaction and Safety Recommendations

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Many people voiced concern about child safety at the park.

Some residents from Danbury and Stamford have echoed these worries. They’re really pushing for better safety measures at parks and similar spots.

Water safety experts suggest a few precautions when heading to state parks with water access:

Always keep an eye on children near water

Use Coast Guard-approved life vests for young kids and those who aren’t strong swimmers

Stick to swimming in designated areas where lifeguards are present

Learn basic water rescue skills and CPR

Never swim alone, no matter how old or confident you feel

As summer rolls on and folks from towns like Greenwich and Fairfield head to state parks and beaches, authorities keep urging families to stay alert. It feels especially important for those with young children.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection keeps looking at safety protocols at Indian Well State Park. They’re also reviewing other water recreation areas across the state, hoping to prevent anything like this from happening again.

Here is the source article for this story: Unconscious five-year-old child pulled from water at CT state park

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