Child drowns – A child drowned at Conimicut Point Beach in Warwick, Rhode Island on Friday afternoon, bringing the beach’s fourth drowning in five years. Officials say responders performed CPR before the child was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and the mayor urged resi
The call came at 4:16 p.m., and within minutes officers and firefighters were at Conimicut Point Beach in Warwick, Rhode Island after a juvenile was pulled from the water unresponsive.
Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi confirmed in a Facebook post Friday that the victim was a child. Police are continuing to investigate the incident and said they will release additional information once the investigation is complete.
Before the child was transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the child’s parent and a bystander initiated CPR, the Warwick Police Department told the Boston Globe.
Picozzi asked residents to hold off on criticism. “Now is not the time to place blame or criticism,” he wrote. “Let’s just pray for the family.”
The mayor also sought to clarify where the drowning happened. Picozzi said Friday’s drowning “didn’t occur on or even near the sandbar,” an area of the beach that has long been associated with dangerous water conditions.
Officials have previously warned that fast and forceful currents develop at the sandbar, where large volumes of water moving through a narrow channel can pull swimmers into dangerous conditions.
Conimicut Point Beach has been the scene of repeated tragedies in recent years. In June 2021, a 10-year-old girl, Yoskarly Martinez, and a bystander who tried to help her, Valentin Cardona Sanchez, 35, drowned. In July 2023. Nicolette Biber. 28. of East Greenwich. drowned while swimming near the sandbar. according to lawsuits filed by her parents against the City of Warwick. The suit alleges city officials were aware of hazardous conditions at the beach but failed to adequately protect visitors.
Conimicut Point Beach Warwick Rhode Island child drowning Frank Picozzi sandbar currents Hasbro Children’s Hospital CPR
Sandbar again? That place is cursed.
So they did CPR but it still happened… tragic. Also why are people already “placing blame” like come on, wait for the investigation.
Hold on, didn’t it say it was on/near the sandbar? Like that’s literally what everyone keeps talking about. If it wasn’t, then where exactly? I’m not trying to be rude just feels weird when they keep mentioning the sandbar like it’s the answer.
Fourth drowning in five years at the same beach and they’re like “pray for the family” (which yes), but also… where’s the fix? You’d think the city would put up better warnings or barriers or something. Fast currents can pull you fast, sure, but people keep getting put in the same situation. I hope the parents sue again if they knew it was dangerous.