The amazing story surrounding the rescue of a 12-year-old boy by local lifeguards has been overshadowed by rumour and innuendo, laments a local-business owner.
Brittany Gallagher, owner and operator of both Barrie (Centennial Beach) and Orillia (Tudhope Park) locations of Splash On Waterpark, feels the focus is in the wrong place when it comes to the dramatic rescue at Centennial Beach on Sunday.
“Me and my staff have been interrogated for the last two days and we’ve been painted in a really dark light, which is so far from the truth. That’s been really frustrating... the misinformation,” said Gallagher.
On Sunday at around 5 p.m., a 12-year-old boy went into medical distress while on the inflatable water park. After being pulled from the water by lifeguards, he was transported to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and then rushed to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.
He is now recovering after the rescue.
The boy has not been identified.
Rumours started swirling on social media almost immediately after news first broke concerning the safety of the water park, but Gallagher says the rumours couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“My staff did an amazing job, and it’s just really unfortunate that they aren’t being seen that way. They saved that boy’s life,” said Gallagher.
Barrie police Const. Nicole Rodgers provided an update Wednesday on the health of the boy and the ongoing investigation.
“As of Monday, (the boy) is in stable and very good condition,” said Rodgers.
“We were called for (medical distress) and we don’t know the events that led up to it. It was considered to be a drowning in the sense that he breathed in water, but we don’t know what led to that incident, therefore we need to speak to the people who were involved in the rescue at the beginning,” she added. “There are people we know were involved that we haven’t spoken to yet. So, right now we’re just reaching out to those people to try to get the beginning of the story.
“At this point in the investigation, we’re trying to get in touch with everyone that was involved so we can get the beginning part of the puzzle. At this point, we only have the middle through the end,” Rodgers said. “We know they (the water park) were following regulations for lifeguards and capacity, and the boy was wearing a life-jacket, as he was meant to."
Gallagher pointed to the various safety protocols the park has in place.
“Absolutely everyone on the park has to wear a life-jacket at all times,” said Gallagher. “The park is for ages five and up. Children who are ages five to eight are required to be on the park with a parent, and we provide a parent chaperone pass free of charge to instill safety.”
Gallagher also requires that all her staff are certified and trained National Lifeguard Service (NLS) lifeguards.
At both locations, the number of lifeguards on duty at any given time fluctuates with the weather.
On the day of the incident at the Barrie location, there were eight lifeguards at the park with a capacity of 150 people. Between six to eight lifeguards are on duty at any given time.
The Orillia location has a capacity of 100 people, with four to six lifeguards on duty at any given time.
Gallagher says the public backlash has definitely affected the spirits of her staff, who declined to be interviewed for this story.
“It’s unfortunate that something so great happened, and it’s been painted so negatively. That’s the biggest struggle about it. My staff are very frustrated,” said Gallagher.
Detectives are looking to speak to those who were at the water park and involved in the rescue and aid of the boy, or who may have seen the events leading up to the rescue.
Anyone who has not already spoken to police is asked to call 705-725-7025, ext. 2129.
