On Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 3:23 PM the Perry Township Fire Department responded to a report of a drowning at the Burdette Park Aquatic Center. A child, five-year-old Seth Fulkerson, was found by another child floating face down in the water. The child informed his parent who then jumped in and pulled Seth from the water.
EMT’s and registered nurses started CPR immediately, after which Seth was transported to Deaconess Hospital. Seth never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 4:25 PM.
Seth was found floating in water approximately 2-1/4 feet deep near a rope that separates sections of the pool. Seth’s mother was at the aquatic center with her other children ages 2,10 and 11 when the drowning occurred. The investigation is active and ongoing at this time.
Sheriff Dave Wedding issued the following statement regarding the drowning:
“Our thoughts are with Seth’s family this evening. The loss of a child is something no parent should ever have to endure. Our office, in conjunction with the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office, is investigating this incident and will conduct a thorough examination of all the facts surrounding the death. This tragedy is a reminder of how quickly a drowning can occur, even in relatively shallow depths.”
