Teen's drowning revives debate over state park lifeguards

August 1st, 2008, posted by RobHop

The drowning of a teenager living in Warminster has revived debate over a decision earlier this year to eliminate lifeguards at virtually all state park beaches.

Eric Williams, 17, was swimming in Fuller Lake at a Cumberland County state park with a group of youths when he suddenly disappeared as they were getting out of the water around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The teens were from the Valley Youth House, an Allentown-based center for treating at-risk youths. Williams was living at one of the center’s emergency shelters.

“The counselor went to look again and didn’t see the boy,” David Gilgoff, Valley Youth House president, said. Gilgoff said Williams was a good swimmer. Gilgoff said he could not disclose details about the youth’s family.

Unsure of where Williams had gone, his chaperones searched the area before contacting a park ranger, who called in more than 50 volunteers to comb the area. Williams’ body was found just after 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Cumberland County Coroner Michael Norris said it was impossible to know if a lifeguard could have saved Williams, but state Rep. Sue Helm (R., Dauphin) said there’s a “good chance” an alert, on-duty lifeguard could have seen him go under.

“Maybe we’ll never know if a lifeguard would have saved this person or not, but it wouldn’t have hurt,” she said.
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This tragedy is being used

On August 1st, 2008 Anonymous said:

This tragedy is being used as an excuse to increase spending.
We should remember that maybe a million people did not drown.

You should all be very very ashamed of yourselves!!! If that was your 17 year old child, friend, family, or a loved one you would not be speaking out about taxes. This is sad…..what is this world coming to!! I am 29 year olds I just came across this acticle on the internet and am outragged by you individuals and your heartless replies!!! Why dont you focus your “TAX” anger on something other than a dear individuals death and focus on not letting this happen again to another death caused by drowning!!!

Tragedy

On August 1st, 2008 Anonymous said:

So unless a million or more people drown there is no need for lifeguards. How did you arrive at that number. How many from your immediate family would you be willing to sacrifice. People like you make me laugh. The state government doesn’t need an excuse to spend money, they seem to have spending down to a science. So what if someone drowned, it wasn’t anyone you know and you sure as hell don’t want your tax dollars spent on saving lives.

What's sad is....

On August 3rd, 2008 Anonymous said:

...that we have come to a place where our state is unable to pay for lifeguards. Twenty or thirty years ago that would have been unimaginable. When legislators and citizens talk about “choices” which have to be made to balance a budget, somehow I don’t think eliminating this essential public safety service would be high on the list….but I guess it was. I don’t know how much money would have been needed to fund this, but my guess is that those people pouring their life savings into slots probably spend enough in a day or two to cover the entire cost for a year.

Pilt

Its a sad day when this

On August 3rd, 2008 Anonymous said:

Its a sad day when this blog is peppered with the “I’m being taxed to death” and “that’s the way Nanny wants it” when we are talking about the drowning of 17 year old kid. Its no wonder this state is in the shape its in. It disgusts me.
JP

Well, fifty or a hundred

On August 5th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Well, fifty or a hundred years ago, there were no lifeguards.
Guess what? People took care of themselves. Are we less competent?