Children's Safety Zone

The teen boy pulled unconscious out of the Colorado River after floating downstream underwater for about 100 yards has been identified.

Junior de Jesus Salamanca, 17, is currently listed in critical condition at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The near-drowning occurred at about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday when two of Salamanca’s younger siblings became distressed while swimming beneath the Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Salamanca, who was swimming nearby, tried to rescue his young brother and sister, who were between the ages of 3 and 5.

He was able to reach the children, but as he was returning with them to the shore, he fell into a deep drop off at the north side of the Colorado River beneath the railroad bridge and disappeared under the surface. At that time, he lost his grip on the two children.

Mike Colberg had been swimming in the area and had stopped for a moment near the large rocks underneath the railroad bridge nearby when he became aware of the two children and swam to their rescue.

He was able to grab the young boy and bring him into a nearby cove. With the aid of a second man, both the boy and girl were taken to the opposite shore. Both children were uninjured.

Colberg had been unaware of Salamanca, who continued to float downstream at least 100 yards just beneath the surface.

Salamanca’s father began shouting for help to find his son. Two people standing on the southern shore beneath the Interstate 8 bridge spotted the teen beneath the water a short time later. They brought him ashore and began CPR while someone called 911.

Paramedics responded to the scene, where they began trying to revive the teen as he lay in the sand on the riverbank. They placed him in a gurney and continued chest compressions as they loaded him into the back of a Yuma Fire Department ambulance. He was then transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center before being flown by helicopter to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The incident has prompted YCSO to warn Yuma area residents about the dangers associated with swimming in natural waterways.

“River flows and depth can change on a day-to-day basis so don’t assume just because you were there one day that it will be the same the next,” said Lt. Darren Simmons.

“Watch small children closely and make sure they are wearing approved safety flotation devices.”

MESA, Ariz. – A little boy who was pulled from a pool during a birthday party is expected to survive.

It happened Monday at a home near Lindsay and Brown in Mesa.

Mesa Fire Capt. Forrest Smith says the boy was visiting a house for a birthday party. He somehow figured out how to get into the pool and an adult found him underwater.

The adult administered CPR and was able to get the child breathing again.

The boy was taken to Cardon Children’s Hospital and is expected to recover.

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) – The 10-month-old baby who was left in a bathtub was removed from life support Monday, according to officials with Tucson Police.

As a result of the child’s death, Zada Davis was arrested Tuesday with an added charge of second degree murder.

Winter Breeze Azure was found unconscious and not breathing in a bathtub full of water on June 12.

When detectives with the Dependent Child Unit arrived, they learned that Davis was caring for the baby, along with two other children.

Davis told police she had left the child in the bathtub with the water running, while she left the bathroom to do other things in the apartment at 3636 N. Campbell Ave.

After 10 minutes, Davis returned to the bathroom and found the tub overflowing with water, and the baby was floating.

A neighbor performed CPR on the child while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.

The other two children in the apartment were not injured.

Davis was booked into Pima County Jail.

PHOENIX – With several near drownings across the Valley over the past few days, ABC15 wanted to take a look at what life is like for a victim years later.

Twenty-six-year-old Adam Schilling never played little league, never went to prom and will never have a wife or kids.

Twenty-four years after he nearly drowned, he can’t do anything for himself.

“He needs 24-hour care, seven days a week,” said Respiratory Therapist Susan Rich. “And it’s 100 percent preventable.”

Adam was born a happy, healthy, normal boy. He was 2 1/2-years old when he fell into the family pool. He was only under water for two minutes, but the damage was done.

Adam now needs a wheelchair to carry him and a machine to breathe for him. He can’t speak. About all he can do is blink and muster an occasional smile.

His parents split soon after and now live out of state, but visit regularly.

“That’s another sad thing that happens to families, I have never seen one stay together,” said Rich.

Nine children have drowned in Maricopa and Pinal Counties so far this year.

TEMPE, AZ (CBS5) –

Tempe police detectives have arrested the parents of an 11-month-old boy on charges related to the boy’s  near drowning in a Tempe hotel on Aug. 5.

Summer Dawn Angelly, 23, and Jasen Anchondo, 28, were arrested Aug. 12, according to detectives.

Tempe police officers said the infant’s 4-year-old sister had found him in the bathtub under running water at the Days Inn at  1221 E. Apache.

Police said the mother ran to the motel office screaming, and the motel manager, Gina Padilla, ran to the room with a cell phone and called 911 after seeing the child.

“He was purple and his eyes were rolled back,” Padilla told CBS 5 News. “He wasn’t responding at anything.”

According to officers, the father maintained  the child was “OK,” but the manager said the child didn’t appear to be breathing.  She called 911 and took CPR direction from the dispatcher and guided officers to the room.

The boy was taken to a local children’s hospital.  He was released Aug. 10 and appears to be making a full recovery, police said.

Both parents admitted to being aware their son was left unsupervised in the tub with the water running.

Both Angelly and Anchondo said they were asleep in bed when the boy’s sister awakened them, saying that her little brother was “asleep in the tub,” officers said.

Police called Child Protective Services, and the sister, a 2-year-old brother, and a twin 11-month-old brother are in the care of CPS.

The parents and four children moved to Tempe from California approximately eight weeks ago, and had been staying with a family member prior to moving into the motel, officer said.

Angelly and Anchondo each are charged with one count of child abuse, a Class 2 felony.