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Teenager dies in pool incident

• A Florida teen who died Monday at an Albany apartment complex pool could not swim, authorities say.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — A visiting Florida teenager died Monday evening in a Northwest Albany apartment complex pool.

Raheem Gillon, 17, was pronounced dead at 5:55 p.m. Monday after he was found in the swimming pool of the Westwind Apartments complex on Dawson Road, Albany Police Department spokeswoman Phyllis Banks said.

Gillon, of Crescent City, Fla., was visiting family at the apartments and decided to go to the pool Monday afternoon, police said. Banks said the boy was unable to swim.

Coroner Emma Quimbley said the teen’s body will be sent to Atlanta for an autopsy, after which she will determine a cause of death. There appeared to be no trauma on the boy’s body that could have been caused by a diving accident, she said.

Signs are posted along the pool’s perimeter stating that diving is not allowed and that no lifeguard is on duty.

Apartment Manager Donna Wiegand said the pool’s swimming policy is strictly enforced and that anyone who wants to use the pool must have a pass.

She said she did not remember giving out any guest passes for the pool recently.

“I usually get a lot of backlash (from apartment residents) for asking if you have a pool pass because I don’t want something like this to happen,” the visibly shaken Wiegand said.

Wiegand said she closes the pool promptly at 6 p.m. daily. She was notified of the accident by her fianc{‘e}, who ran into her office to inform her of the death.

“He’s the one that performed CPR,” she said.

Banks said people should be cautious when around swimming pools, particularly if they are inexperienced swimmers.

“They should follow the rules of the pool. No running, no diving in shallow areas,” she said. “Children should always be supervised.

“If you are not an experienced swimmer you should avoid the pool.”

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