First day of operations turns tragic for Mansfield day camp

MANSFIELD — A child drowned on the first day of a summer camp here, authorities say.

The youth, identified only as a 6-year-old boy, was found unresponsive around 2 pm Monday in a swimming pool at Liberty Lake Day Camp.

A lifeguard pulled the boy from the pool, and staff members attempted life-saving measures, the prosecutor’s office said.

The child was taken by ambulance to Virtua Hospital in Mount Holly, where he was pronounced dead.

Additional details were not immediately available.

Life-saving advice: How to keep swimming in the pool safe and fun for everyone

The camp, on Florence-Columbus Road, did not respond to a request for comment.

Its website and social media sites have no mention of the tragedy, but instead shows upbeat videos and photos of children swimming and enjoying warm-weather fun.

An autopsy was to be performed Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office said.

An investigation is being conducted by the prosecutor’s office and Mansfield police.

This story may be updated.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: [email protected].