Coroner: Drowning victim had just arrived at pool

WEST CHESTER TWP. — The 6-year-old boy who drowned at Lakota Hills Swim Club pool June 12 had arrived at the pool less than 15 minutes before he was found in the water, according to records from the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Clint Nigg, investigator with the coroner’s office, said he couldn’t say how long Zachary Smith had been in the water but that he had just arrived. Smith was pulled from the pool around 5 p.m. and transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Liberty Campus, where he was pronounced dead.

Nigg said there were four Lakota Hills employees at the pool, although he couldn’t say how many lifeguards were on duty.

A June 14 autopsy revealed the boy drowned and had no medical condition, injuries or marks on his body.

Nigg said last week his death was what pathologists call a “dry lung” drowning, meaning the boy’s airway closed before he aspirated water into his lungs. He said the boy had been under water a short amount of time.

Both the West Chester Police Department and coroner’s office are continuing their investigations.