An investigation is underway after a 12-year-old boy was found dead in a swimming pool at the campsite last week.
Pau Khai’s body was discovered in a swimming pool at the Summit Grove campsite in New Freedom, Pennsylvania.
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Authorities said the young boy went missing Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. and was not located until 2 a.m. Thursday, according to ABC affiliate WHTM.
Before the child went missing, the camp said swimming walls took place from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Summit Grove shared a statement on his Facebook page explaining: “Westminster Presbyterian Church organizers allegedly cleaned the pool and were on their way to the next activity when they noticed Pau was missing.”
The camp added: “Several refuges said they had checked the pool and searched the area, but could not locate Pau.
“Concerned about his safety, 911 was called and the Southern York Regional Police Department responded, investigated and searched the site and surrounding area for Pau.”
And one of the campers at the program told police they saw Pay walking on a dirt road and heading to the entrance of the camp, CBS21 News reported.
A warning about a missing person was only issued at 23:45, eight hours after the swimming time slot started.
The camp said it is unknown what “specifically happened between 6pm on June 29 and 2am on June 30,” but it is being investigated by police.
Pau, a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, participated in a three-day church-sponsored high school retreat.
The York County Coroner’s Office has revealed that the boy died of drowning after an autopsy was performed on July 1.
“We must take all precautions and treat everything as seriously as possible, but at this stage we have no information that it is anything other than an accident,” said Regional Police Chief James Boddington, according to WHTM.
“But we’re definitely going to look at every aspect just to be sure.”
Boddington said in the wake of the young boy’s death that the tragic incident was being investigated as a drowning.
In addition, Summit Grove will also conduct a “full internal review of this incident”.
Summit Grove concluded in a statement on social media: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Khai family, Pau’s friends and the Westminster Presbyterian Church community as we continue to mourn together and process this devastating loss.
“Nothing is more important to Summit Grove than the health and well-being of everyone who uses the campus.
“We thank you for your continued support of Pau’s family, the Westminster Presbyterian Church community and Summit Grove during this difficult time.
“Anyone wishing to support the Khai family should contact the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Lancaster.”
Camp activities were canceled through the fourth weekend of July and anyone with questions is advised to contact the Southern York Regional Police Department, the camp noted.
The Sun reached out to Summit Grove for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
Ty Fischer, the principal at Veritas Academy where Pau was enrolled in school, remembered Pau for his hard work at school.
He told Lancaster Online (LNP): “He got good marks, had a sense of humor and was just someone I put so much hope in.
“It takes a lot of work to achieve success when English is not your first language.
“He was kind of one of those students who was on the road to success.”
A teacher at Westminster Presbyterian Church described Pau as loving Legos and “an active member of the youth group.”
ESL teacher Connie O’Connor told LNP: “He had two younger brothers, I think he was great with them and they loved him.
“He had a lot of responsibility as the eldest of three, and his parents trusted him and he fulfilled that responsibility.”
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