Boy, 11, suddenly dies as day at waterpark turns into tragedy
A schoolboy died suddenly after experiencing a 'medical-related incident' while at a waterpark.
Titus Mark Wininger, 11, had headed to the Wild Rivers waterpark in Irvine, California, on June 22 with his youth group.
However, during the day out with his friends, he quickly fell ill, leading to Orange County firefighters being called to the park on reports that a child needed urgent medical aid.
After officials attended the scene just past 11 a.m. on Saturday (June 22), they rushed Wininger to a nearby hospital where he later died.
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Following the tragic incident, Sgt. Matt Parrish, a sheriff spokesperson, confirmed to the Orange County Register that Wininger had died from a condition known as anomalous insertion of coronary arteries.
Stanford Health Care writes that an anomalous coronary artery (ACA) is a coronary artery that has suffered an abnormality or malformation.
The malformation is congenital - meaning it’s present at birth - and is most often related to the origin or location of the coronary artery in the wrong spot.
Unfortunately, ACAs are often tricky to diagnose due to a lack of symptoms.
However, some exhibited symptoms can include; intense chest pains, dizziness and fainting during exertion.
According to Cleveland Clinic, only around one percent of the population suffers from this rare heart problem and sometimes it can take until a person reaches adulthood to gain an accurate diagnosis from practitioners.
Following Wininger’s death, a spokesperson for Wild Rivers waterpark told Fox News that they were ‘deeply saddened’ by the incident.
“An 11-year-old boy experienced a non-water, but medical-related incident outside one of our pools,” they said.
“Despite the swift response from our team and emergency services, he sadly passed away later at the hospital.
“Our hearts go out to the boy’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
Following Wininger’s death, a GoFundMe page has been set up by a woman named Angela Corbin to ‘support Titus’s family during their time of sorrow’.
“While the family is still waiting for more information or to understand why, we would like to meet them with love, support, and a monetary donation that they may need in this time of sorrow,” the fundraising page reads.
“Please understand their need for privacy during this time. We will pass along more information when it is available.”
The GoFundMe has since raised $24,462 so far.
UNILAD has contacted Irving County Police for further comment.
Topics: California, Health, US News, GoFundMe
Ella Scott