Boy, 4, drowns in Rohnert Park pool

A 4-year-old boy drowned Sunday while swimming with his family at a condominium pool in Rohnert Park, police officials said.

Police suspect the boy, who had been using a kickboard at the Sonoma Racquet Club residential complex pool off Country Club Drive, somehow slipped off the board, “was unable to make it to the end of the pool and went under the water unnoticed,” Officer Kelly Koffler said.

Officers suspect the boy had been underwater for several minutes before someone saw him, Koffler said. Bystanders got the unresponsive boy out of the pool and began CPR.

Police were called at 4:22 p.m. to the private condominium complex, which is near Rohnert Park Expressway. Emergency responders arrived at the pool within four minutes of the 911 call and took over life-saving measures. The boy was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

He was pronounced dead at 5:34 p.m. Commander Pat Strouse declined to release the boy’s name because “it was a tragedy ... I’d like to give the family privacy.”

He encouraged people, especially families, to be careful around water. “With the weather getting better, we’re getting into the water activity season,” Strouse said. “Whether you’re swimming or boating, in a lake, a pool or the ocean, it doesn’t matter the age, be observant, be aware.”

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.