Little boy found dead in abandoned public pool in Grande Prairie, RCMP investigating

Child found dead in Grande Prairie pool A four-year-old boy was found dead in a shutdown Grande Prairie pool late Monday evening.

RCMP in northern Alberta said an investigation was underway, after a missing boy was found in a Grande Prairie pool.

Police said officers were first called in, when RCMP received reports of a missing 4-year-old boy in Muskoseepi Park at about 7 p.m. Monday.

Officers with Grande Prairie RCMP, Police Dog Services, and members of the Grande Prairie Fire Department and Search and Rescue were all brought in to search for the child.

Hours later, at about 9:30 p.m. he was found deceased in the Bear Creek Pool, in the park.

RCMP said CPR was attempted by the people who found him, but RCMP Inspector Don McKenna said: “It was too late.”

Friends identified the little boy as Hail Kelly.

RCMP said that pool had been closed to the public for a few years, and investigators wouldn’t say how the youngster managed to get behind the chain link fence surrounding the pool.

Officials said surveillance video showed Hail entering the area, but RCMP wouldn’t confirm exactly how he could have died.

Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given said the pool had been emptied of rain water, but sometimes, water would collect in the deep end.

The investigation continues.

With files from Susan Amerongen