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Olathe student, now stable, found unresponsive after nearly drowning in school pool

A Google Maps image shows Prairie Trail Middle School, where a child almost drowned on Tuesday morning.
A Google Maps image shows Prairie Trail Middle School, where a child almost drowned on Tuesday morning. Google Maps

An Olathe student was found unresponsive in a school pool on Tuesday morning, according to police.

Emergency crews responded to Prairie Trail Middle School just after 10:45 a.m. after the student nearly drowned in the water. A school nurse on scene initiated chest compressions but could not tell whether the child was breathing, scanner traffic indicated.

Minutes later, dispatch upgraded the call and reported that the child was not breathing. The child was transported to an area hospital and is currently in stable condition, said Joel Yeldell, a spokesperon with the Olathe Police Department.

After seeing the student in the water, a teacher activated a crisis alert system, briefly placing the school on lockdown, according to a message sent to parents by principal Jenna Jones. After it was determined the incident was a medical emergency, the lockdown was lifted.

Classes continued as usual for the rest of the day.

“At no time were any students or staff in any danger,” Jones’ email read.

The message further indicated that students would be provided additional counseling in the coming days if needed.

No further details about the incident have been released.

Jenna Thompson
The Kansas City Star
Jenna Thompson covers retail news for The Kansas City Star. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, she previously reported for the Lincoln Journal Star and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she studied journalism and English.
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