WASHINGTON – A Rockville girl has died after she was rescued from a local swimming pool Tuesday and now Montgomery County police are investigating the 8-year-old’s death.
Rescuers were called to the Rockville Swim Center about 2:40 p.m. for a report of a possible drowning Tuesday. They flew Stephanie Benitez to the hospital were she was pronounced dead later that night.
Investigators say that Stephanie had jumped from the diving board into the deep end of the pool and swam to a nearby ladder. However, she didn’t have the strength to pull herself out of the pool and began making “unusual movements.”
Lifeguards were alerted and quickly pulled the girl from the water to begin treatment. However she was unresponsive. She remained unconscious as she was taken to the hospital.
Although no foul play is suspected, police continue to investigate. An autopsy is pending and will help determine Stephanie’s cause of death.