A five-year old boy from the United States tragically lost his life while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. According to a news report filed by Patricia Durán of daily tabloid Diario Extra, the unfortunate incident occurred in a rural hotel located about 13 kilometers away from the town of Buena Vista, in the Liberia canton of Guanacaste.

The news report explains that the boy had been actively playing near the swimming pool when he decided to plunge into the swimming pool during a hot, sunny day. Red Cross paramedics mentioned that the child struck his head against a hard surface of the swimming pool upon plunging.

The preliminary report shows that the boy complete lost all consciousness before drowning. It is not clear how much time had passed since the moment the victim jumped into the water until someone noticed that he had suffered an accident. It took seven minutes for the Red Cross ambulance departing from Liberia to meet the private vehicle in which the boy was being transported; the response time is being investigated as emergency officials believe should have taken five minutes.

Also under investigation is the hotel’s swimming pool area and its safety procedures. Depending on the size and depth of the swimming pool, the law in Costa Rica requires a lifeguard to be on duty whenever the pool is open to guests. In general, a depth of 1.6 meters or greater will trigger certain requirements such as a lifeguard and rescue equipment.

A Red Cross spokesperson called on vacationing families to be mindful of children playing near swimming pools and whenever they are near bodies of water such as rivers, creeks, lakes, lagoons, and oceans. Special attention should be paid the moment children enter the water, and they should be closely monitored until they exit the water.

The Costa Rica Star extends condolences to the family of the child; may he rest in eternal peace.