A Sheriff's Department spokesperson confirms the drowning victim is from Castro Valley, but says his name has not been released.
"It appears this is just an extremely tragic accident. There does not appear to be any foul play but we are doing our due diligence and interviewing witnesses and will conduct an investigation," Sgt. J.D. Nelson said.
The general manager for the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District says there were four lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident which happened at 2:18 Monday afternoon. Rita Shue says there were 44 people at the pool for the public swim portion of the day which runs from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m.
"I have been with the district for 30 years and this is the first time we had had such a tragedy," Shue said.
The pool rules require any child under the age of seven to have an adult with them in the pool. It is not known if a parent or adult was with the victim at the time of the drowning. Shue says all of the lifeguards must have American Red Cross training and be trained in CPR.
It appears the ratio of lifeguards to swimmers in the pool was well within the standard of one lifeguard for every 40 swimmers. The four lifeguards who were on duty Monday are all receiving grief counseling and Shue says when they return to work, they will most likely be assigned to one of the district's other four pools.
