Near drowning at Bridges Bay prompts state investigation, pool closures

By Seth Boyes - News Editor

State officials ordered Bridges Bay Resort in Arnolds Park to close its pools after the near drowning of a 2-year-old boy prompted an investigation, which found the pools lacked adequate lifeguard supervision.

An emergency closure order from the Iowa Department of Public Health said the resort failed to report the near drowning as required. The state went on to say the closure of five areas in the resort was "necessary to avoid the immediate danger to the public," and the order will remain in place until IDPH has approved updated plans from Bridges Bay and reviewed the lifeguard certificates for the entire facility.

Bridges Bay posted a message to social media on June 19 — the same day the state's order was signed — saying the resort's indoor and outdoor waterparks would be closed until further notice due to staffing issues.

Will and Lauren Bramhall of Spirit Lake feel that isn't the whole story.

THE WITNESS ACCOUNTS

The couple was hosting a June 16 birthday party at the resort's indoor water park for their 2-year-old twins — Miles and Russell. Lauren Bramhall said Miles slipped through an unlatched door to the pool area while the group was serving pizza and cake in the facility's party room. The mother estimated it took about five minutes to realize her son was missing and begin searching for him — but it was enough time for the young boy to wander into a serious situation.

"We are fully aware that Miles getting out of the room was our fault, but Bridges Bay should have ensured that the doors in the party room latch as they are so close to the swim area," she said. "We were done swimming for the day and felt safe enough in the room to turn our backs to serve our guests the pizza we had gotten, and we made a mistake in feeling this way because we’re human."

She said Miles entered the water near the park's lazy river feature. Fortunately, another park visitor noticed the young boy.

Scott DeRuyter of Spirit Lake said it was simply by chance his family was even at the water park that day, since he had no business appointments that afternoon. He decided to take his three daughters and meet his son who was coming off a shift at the resort around 4 p.m. that day — about 45 minutes before 2-year-old Miles would enter the water. DeRuyter and one of his daughters went down the indoor park's waterslide, which empties into the lazy river. While his daughter decided to head for another portion of the park, DeRuyter decided to drift along the river for a bit.

It was then that he recalled seeing small hands moving up and down in the water.

DeRuyter said children sometimes float along the lazy river with goggles or even run through on foot, but soon it became apparent to him the situation was more serious.

"When I didn't see him come up the whole time I was going down that back stretch, I thought, 'There's no way he's holding his breath that long,'" DeRuyter said. "When I got there and realized how small of a person it was, I just knew I had to get off and do something."

DeRuyter got off his inner-tube and headed for the boy. He said he had been a certified lifeguard in his teenage years and has taken Red Cross CPR courses several times for various jobs in the past.

"When I pulled him out of the water, his eyes were open — not blinking and they were just kind of distant — and then around his mouth area and his fingertips were blue," DeRuyter said.

He said he carried young Miles to the side of the pool, placed the boy on his side and could hear gurgling noises — which he said indicated the boy's breathing wasn't completely restricted. DeRuyter said he then rocked the boy back and forth on his stomach and patted his back until water came from his mouth and nose. He recalled a nearby couple getting the attention of an employee at the pool and said the staff member then carried the boy to the lifeguard office. DeRuyter said it wasn't until that point that the full gravity of the situation hit him.

"It all sunk in," DeRuyter said. "Then the ‘what ifs’ kind of go through your head. What if I would have got off with my daughter? What if I'd have just kept floating by thinking it was a kid playing in the lazy river?"

Bramhall said resort staff spotted her husband looking for their son and directed him to the office, and an emergency call had already been placed.

Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Yungbluth confirmed his crew responded to a near drowning at Bridges Bay last week, and he said the child was assessed and released back to his family after it was determined further assistance was unnecessary. An ambulance had also been called for assistance, but authorities cancelled the call after the boy was assessed.

"Miles was checked out by paramedics that stated that Miles' vitals checked out and (they) were comfortable with us not transporting him to the hospital as Will and I are both medical professionals, and we knew how to — and have the means to — monitor him at home," Bramhall said.

She expressed her thanks to everyone involved — from DeRuyter to the paramedics and the various resort staff whom she said stayed calm and collected during circumstances that had the family panicked.

"We can’t imagine what we would have done if the situation had gone differently," Bramhall said.

THE ORDER TO CLOSE

The state's emergency closure order said the Iowa Department of Public Health was informed June 17 of the previous day's near drowning. The order said such incidents need to be reported within one business day and that "Bridges Bay Resort failed to report the incident as required by rule."

A local inspection agency official paid a visit to the resort on June 18. The order said resort staff told the investigator the only staff member certified as a lifeguard at the time of the near drowning was staffed at the front desk. And while the investigator noted the outdoor and indoor facilities were each being covered by two staff members during the inspection, none of the four were certified as lifeguards.

"In sum, the indoor pool is required to be staffed by a minimum of four lifeguards and was staffed by zero lifeguards at the time of the incident and at the time of the inspection," the state's order said. "The outdoor pool is required to be staffed by 12 lifeguards and was staffed by zero lifeguards at the time of inspection."

The state had previously ordered Bridges Bay to close its outdoor pool in September of 2020 because of "extensive deficiencies with the reconstruction of the outdoor waterpark." The order cited six issues, including the addition of a swim-up bar, uninstalled floatables and design changes to the spa area.

"None of these changes had been approved, and many resulted in additional deficiencies," the state said in that order.

This month's emergency closure said Bridges Bay was granted a June 10 waiver in order to reopen, and the waiver was conditional on the waterpark operating with at least 12 lifeguards at all times.

Miles Bramhall nearly drowned in the indoor waterpark six days after Bridges Bay was granted the waiver.

Lori Richardson, general manager of Bridges Bay, said the resort is working with both the state and the Bridges Bay Master Homeowner Association to ensure it meets the requirements to reopen its pool facilities.

"Unfortunately the labor market situation that has impacted many industries also has impacted ours and made obtaining the amount of staff required more difficult," she said, adding applicants may contact the resort.

Richardson did not provide further details on the number of certified lifeguards on duty during the incident, the resort's lifeguard certification policies or a potential timeline in which the resort will be making appropriate changes to reopen.

DeRuyter said his son was certified as a lifeguard through the resort prior to his first shift at the pool, and he said the details coming to light are surprising.

"I've been bringing my kids there for a long time, and I have a 6-year-old," DeRuyter said. "You see lifeguards there, and you assume they know CPR and they know stuff if something should happen. To find out that they were that severely understaffed and undertrained is kind of eye-opening."

Bramhall said her family places no blame on the staff working in the pool area that day, and she said they are thankful for the kindness and comfort shown to their son while his family searched for him. But she did say she feels Bridges Bay should ensure its lifeguards are trained before the public's lives are potentially placed in their hands.

"The only reason I am speaking out about this is because something needs to change, and all hired lifeguards need to not work until they are trained properly," Bramhall said.

Closure orders: