LAKE MEAD RANGERS INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF AN 11-YEAR OLD LAS VEGAS BOY

Date: August 22, 2009
Contact: Andrew S. Munoz

LAS VEGAS – Park rangers are investigating the cause of death of an 11-year-old Las Vegas boy who died late Thursday night.  An autopsy performed by the Clark County Coroner’s Office on Friday concluded that the primary cause of death was carbon monoxide asphyxiation with drowning as a contributing factor.

The boy was with his parents and one other sibling aboard a Seven Crown Resorts rental houseboat out of Echo Bay Marina when the incident occured.

The houseboat has been secured and rangers will be working with U.S. Coast Guard marine casualty investigators this week to determine the source of the carbon monoxide.

Thursday night at about 8:45 p.m., the National Park Service received a 911 call transferred from Clark County reporting that a boy had been found underwater under a houseboat near Echo Bay.

It took rangers almost 2 hours to locate the houseboat in the dark. Helicopters from Mercy Air and Las Vegas Metro Police Search and Rescue aided in the search.  The family was found in a cove about 500 yards north
of the entrance to Echo Bay.

The boy was transported by Mercy Air to University Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

The death has been ruled accidental by the coroner’s office.

All boaters should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO). The U.S. Coast Guard recommends boaters take these precautions:

- Know where and how CO may accumulate in and around your boat.

- Maintain fresh air circulation throughout the boat at all times. Run
exhaust blowers whenever the generator is operating.

- Know where your engine and generator exhaust outlets are located and keep
everyone away from these areas.

- Never sit, teak surf, or hang on the back deck or swim platform while the engines are running. Teak surfing is NEVER a safe activity.

- Never enter areas under swim platforms where exhaust outlets are located
unless the area has been properly ventilated.

- Although CO can be present without the smell of exhaust fumes, if you
smell exhaust fumes, CO is also present. Take immediate action to dissipate
these fumes.

- Treat symptoms of seasickness as possible CO poisoning. Get the person
into fresh air immediately. Seek medical attention-unless you're sure it's
not CO.

- Install and maintain CO alarms inside your boat. Do not ignore any alarm.
Replace alarms as recommended by the alarm manufacturer.

- Get a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check (VSC). A VSC is a
free bow-to-stern safety examination.

More information about carbon monoxide and boats can be found at:
http://www.uscgboating.org/command/co.htm