Records obtained by WKYT Investigates show the Richmond pool where a boy drowned failed an inspection and was forced to close one day after his death.
7-year-old Santino Yancey-Hardwick was found unresponsive at the Paradise Cove Aquatic Center on June 30th.
“It’s a heartbreaking situation,” said Hardwick’s family’s attorney, Justin Peterson.
Richmond Police say CPR was performed at the pool before Hardwick was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
“With what I have right now, I do believe this death was preventable,” said Peterson.
Rules posted to the Paradise Cove Aquatic Center’s website say children 13 and under must be accompanied by someone 16 or older.
For Hardwick, Peterson says that person was his aunt.
“The family was there, right there, in fact. I think we’re going to find that they also put the people in notice that could have helped the situation,” said Peterson.
Peterson says they’ve already interviewed several eyewitnesses and plan to speak with more.
They’re also working to obtain records and collect as much information as they can.
It states “no violations observed,” and Paradise Cove’s lap and feature pools each received a 100% rating.
Inspection forms from July 1 tell a different story.
One day after Hardwick drowned, inspectors detailed several violations at both pools. The inspection reports for each are identical.
They ordered the immediate closure of both pools, giving them an 89% rating.
WKYT asked the City of Richmond for comment about the failed July 1 inspection, but they declined to comment at this time.
Credit: Samantha Valentino – WKYT/Lexington
