Investigators are trying to determine why two boys drowned in a public swimming pool in Pella Wednesday night. The boy’s names have not been released, but they were 14 and 15 years old and from the Kansas City area.
The teens were at the pool while attending an annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp at Central College. FCA spokesperson Tom Regeberg says roughly 175 boys were at the pool at the time. “There were 10 to 15 lifeguards employed by the City of Pella there working and 21 adult FCA staff observing,” Regeberg said. “It’s an absolute mystery to us how this could’ve happened.”
Pella police were called to the Pella Aquatic Center just before 10 p.m. Both teens were declared dead on arrival at a local hospital.
Regeberg says both of the boys knew how to swim. He says all of the campers were asked prior to the pool visit if they knew how to swim. “These two boys were part of the vast majority that did say they did know how to swim,” Regeberg said.
Autopsies are being scheduled. Regeberg says grief counselors are working with the young people who remain at camp through Friday.