One Child Dead and Another Hospitalized After Separate Harris County Apartment Pool Incidents

Overview

• A 5-year-old was found unresponsive in the community pool at the Cortland Wortham apartments in northwest Houston on the evening of July 4 and was later pronounced dead at a hospital after EMS performed CPR.
• Deputies said about 30 people were in the Cortland Wortham pool when the child went underwater and that family members were not watching the child when the incident occurred.
• An 8-year-old was pulled from a community beach-club pool at an apartment complex on 15808 Crystal Terrace Drive in the Humble area on Saturday night and remains in serious condition at a hospital.
• The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is interviewing witnesses and seeking surveillance footage from building management for two active investigations, and the Harris County district attorney will determine whether any charges are appropriate.
• Officials, including Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, urged stronger water safety as holiday pool use rises and investigators and local leaders may next examine apartment pool supervision, lifeguard presence, and property management practices.