A family in Mount Pleasant, Iowa is mourning the loss of a young girl who drowned at a public pool.
On Friday, July 19, 2013, seven-year-old Jazmine Roth-Hines was dropped off at the Mount Pleasant Family Aquatic Center with some friends.
Around 6 p.m. a lifeguard at the pool, Chase Lerdal, said a woman came running toward him with Jazmine over her shoulder saying she thought the little girl had drowned and that she had been at the bottom of the pool.
“As soon as I got out of the water, I was like, I know this little girl,” Lerdal said. “I’ve seen her, I’ve taught her lessons, and I just tried everything in my power to bring, get her back, because I didn’t want it to be true that she was gone.”
Police say, when they arrived, lifeguards were performing CPR on the girl. She was transported to Henry County Health Center where she was later pronounced dead.
On Sunday, July 21, 2013 Jazmine’s family held a vigil at the Mount Pleasant pool in her memory.
Pink and red roses and a princess balloon were attached to the fence in front of the pool as a makeshift memorial for the little girl.
“She was my everything,” said Crystal Roth, Jazmine’s mother. “I can’t believe she’s gone. I just want my baby back. That’s all I want.”
Family says the drowning was preventable, despite the pool having lifeguards, a parent, guardian, or adult should have been with her.
According to a manager at the pool, the center was fully staffed at the time of the drowning.
A memorial has been set up for Jazmine at the 5 Star Community Credit Union in Mount Pleasant.