After two drowning deaths and a near-drowning, a Michigan KOA campground is shutting down its swimming pond. An 18-year-old man, Anthony Lavelle Shores Jr., vanished in the pond water last Wednesday. Minutes later, frantic rescuers brought his lifeless body to shore. Sadly, this was the second death-by-drowning at the KOA Holiday Campground near Petersburg in less than a year.
Last year, also in July, Jaylen Hill, a 15-year-old football player, drowned in the same pond. And in 2021, another teenage boy, Andy Snook, was also pulled from that KOA swimming pond. In Andy’s case, his parents got a phone call while driving, telling them their son was dead. Later they found that Andy was still alive, and hospitalized. But Andy hasn’t recovered, and continues in a persistently vegetative state.
Something suspicious in the swimming pond?
Was there something suspicious involved in these drownings? KOA has no comment. Local law enforcement has “investigated” the incidents, but has produced no concrete findings that we could find. Local authorities have commented that the murky waters of the swimming pond make it hard to see someone who’s gone under. They add when rescuers start churning the water, things get worse, making visibility difficult.
An attorney representing the families of Jaylen Hill and Andy Snook says there’s more to the story. Stephen Lovell told metro Detroit media outlet clickondetroit.com, “We’ve hired a diver to go down there and check out exactly what’s going on, why this pond is so dangerous,” said Lovell. “We’ve hired a human factors expert who has looked at this, we’ve hired an aquatic safety expert who’s looked at this, and everybody agrees that everything that’s happened so far is preventable.”
Some share their recollections
We were unable to reach Lovell by press time for a further explanation. But plenty of folks commented on the KOA Holiday Campground Facebook site that they applaud the campground’s decision to close the swimming pond. One commenter, Josh Segura, had his own recollection to share:
“My family has been going to this KOA for generations, my stepmom would tell stories of seeing a little kid pulled out of that pond after drowning. We had one rule ‘Do not step foot on the sand without an adult present.’ The last two years myself and a group of dads have been taking our kids there for Father’s Day. They love swimming in the pond and follow that same rule we did as children. I hope the KOA is able to find an alternative solution but I understand why they closed it.”
Another Facebook commenter, Crystal Dowiak, had her own sorrows to share. “My brother was 21 when the seaweed in that pond took him under. I wished no other families had to go through what we go through every day, and then when you see a new drowning in that same pond we can’t heal. It brings back the day of that call.”
Long-term repercussions
The decision by the KOA management to shut down their swimming pond will have repercussions. No doubt some guests will be disappointed, and park managers are offering refunds through early September for those who want to cancel their reservations. But those who have lost loved ones will have feelings that will last their lifetimes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a swimming pond, or a modern swimming pool. Watch your loved ones closely.
##RVT1112b
The article states “everybody agrees that everything that’s happened so far is preventable.”
So that tells me KOA is liable, that maybe they should’ve had the plants cleaned out of the pond?
In a natural pond, and many lakes, the water will be murky even without aquatic growth. It’s not possible to eliminate all risks and make nature completely safe. Unless you have a personal spotter within arm’s distance, there is a drowning risk for all swimmers. It’s very unfortunate that people sue and force closure or restrictions on attractions that have some risk, but can be used safely with care. I’m noticing there are far fewer public pools now because municipalities can’t cope with the expense of lawsuits.
Seems to me it would be of utmost importance to have a ‘lifeguard’ on duty after the first drowning happened yrs ago…no excuse!
Individual responsibility. Drownings unfortunately happen frequently, whether in pools, the ocean, or lakes. Should all bodies of water without lifeguard be closed also? Doesn’t seem rational to me.
As with teachers and school bus drivers there is a nationwide shortage of life guards as well. It is a tough job and a lot of responsibility. This happens and I really hope they are able to reopen next year.
Every family that suffers a tragic event like this drowning always want to know why. While this is very understandable I do not feel one should hold KOA responsible. Having been a life guard it’s impossible to ensure anyone’s safety in lake waters. Swimming pools are an entirely different animal. This lake was posted with all the danger signs but we all know that some folks think they are indestructible IMO.
Natural ponds have weeds, but they don’t cause drowning. Numerous factors do, though: drinking alcohol and swimming, or not having sufficient swimming skills for the conditions. There’s also a phenomenon called shallow water drowning which occurs when there is insufficient oxygen circulating due to the athletic effort of swimming and breath holding required by some strokes. The person very suddenly blacks out when the blood oxygen level gets too low for brain function, and naturally breathes in water because they’re unconscious. This phenomenon is responsible for many drowning deaths for swimmers and snorkelers. No one’s at fault, suing just ruins it for everyone.
Rational and sage comments.
Living a full life comes with risk. I’m pretty sure that it is the lawyers and insurance companies that closed the pond. It’s awful when any life is lost but living in a bubble is not living.
Lawyers and dumb people devastate freedom…💥
When I was young we had ponds. We had swimming lessons. Crazy as it sounds, we also had swimming lessons on ponds. Teaching your kids to swim is the win/win. Closing a swimming pond to competent swimmers is like taking guns from law abiding gun owners or banning automobiles for all, because of a deadly AVOIDABLE wreck. Like skydiving? You may need a lesson or 2 in parachute deployment first.
Teach your kids to swim. Be a parent!
I lived 1 hour north of there and camped there for years for their Halloween gig and never in my wildest dreams this would happen 3 years in a row. The only reason for the drowinings is because they state no life guard on duty swim at your own risk. So if you try to lawyer up you will be shot down. I say you want to be stupid? This will happen. Sad to hear the most biggest money maker is being closed. So sad because this is one of the nicest family koa ever. I hope it reopens next year and stupid doesn’t happen again.