A 6-year-old boy required hospitalization and a ventilator after nearly drowning at a Nike Soccer Camp held at the University of the District of Columbia, according to his family.
Adonis Jackson was discovered at the bottom of the pool after approximately two minutes underwater. Camp counselors eventually pulled him out and began administering aid until emergency services arrived. Jackson was transported to Children's National Hospital, where he was sedated and placed on breathing tubes. As of Thursday morning, he was reported to be in stable condition and receiving continuous care.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon when camp leaders reportedly allowed nearly 30 children to enter the pool while the on-duty lifeguard was on a lunch break. The family's attorney, Dominique Calhoun, questioned the camp's supervision protocols.
"How could you allow 30 kids in a pool to go unwatched? How could you allow for a kid to be in the bottom of a pool for two minutes?" Calhoun stated in remarks to WRC. He emphasized the potential for severe, lifelong complications from oxygen deprivation, especially for a child.
Jackson had been attending the Nike Summer Camp with FourSoccer, which offers training for children aged five to 16. Approximately three dozen campers entered the pool following a day of practice. Witnesses reported that a counselor initially attempted to rescue Jackson but struggled to pull him from the water, prompting the head coach to intervene.
Radio communications from the scene captured the urgency, with a dispatcher inquiring about the duration of the child's submersion and the period CPR was administered. Jackson was unresponsive but breathing when he was taken to the hospital, where his mother was waiting. She was initially informed by the camp that her son had "guzzled some water," a message that did not convey the severity of the situation until she reached the hospital.
Another parent, Rosanne Wegman, whose daughter attended the camp, expressed shock and concern. She shared an email from FourSoccer to parents that described a camper experiencing a "medical emergency in the water" and stated the camper was expected to be okay after receiving emergency care and transport to the hospital. Wegman criticized the camp's safety measures, questioning the absence of a replacement lifeguard or a backup trained adult.
The University of the District of Columbia confirmed it is reviewing the incident as part of its standard reporting procedures. A university spokesperson expressed sadness about the participant's injury and stated their thoughts are with Jackson and his family.
Jackson's family has not yet filed a lawsuit but is seeking a thorough investigation, accountability, and justice regarding the circumstances of the near-drowning. Calhoun indicated that doctors are monitoring Jackson's vitals and have observed minor signs of activity while he remains sedated.