A man was pronounced dead after suffering a medical emergency at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center on the 20800 block of Centre Pointe Parkway on Monday afternoon, according to officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters received the call at 12:21 p.m. and arrived two minutes later, according to Edith Lai, spokeswoman for the Fire Department.
The call was closed at 1:17 p.m., Lai said, adding that she had no other information available.
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies were dispatched to the call at 12:17 p.m. and arrived a few minutes later, said Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the station.
They arrived to an unresponsive man who possibly drowned, Miller said.
Joe Redmond, spokesman for the city of Santa Clarita, declined to comment when initially reached on the phone Monday afternoon, but later issued the following prepared statement:
“An incident involving a patron occurred at the Santa Clarita Aquatics Center earlier today. While the individual was swimming, staff observed signs of distress consistent with a medical emergency and immediately contacted first responders. Despite life-saving efforts, the individual was pronounced deceased. The cause of death has not yet been determined. We extend our condolences to the individual’s family and loved ones.”
Miller said that the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau was taking over the investigation due to the nature of the incident.
Homicide Bureau officials deferred to L.A. County Medical Examiner officials.
Medical Examiner officials said the release of the man’s identity is pending legal notification of next of kin.
This is a breaking news story and additional information will be added as it becomes available.
