5-year-old girl dies while in Grand Island water park pool

A 5-year-old Lincoln girl has drowned at a Grand Island water park. “The wave machine rotates on a 10-minute off and 10-minute on scenario”, Ferguson said. Preliminary autopsy results show drowning as the cause of death.

Koffree was at the water park with her mother, Dumale Bariyiga, when the accident occurred, Zitterkopf said.

Mayor Jeremy Jensen asked for the public to pray for the family.

The water park was fully staffed and at half-capacity at the time.

“When a child loses their parents, the child is called an orphan. However, there is no word that describes a parent that loses a child because there is no to encapsulate the pain or accurately describe how the parent feels”, said Mayor Jensen.

“I ask that the entire city of Grand Island unite and uplift this family in their thoughts and prayers”.

Island Oasis shut down for firefighters to respond.

According to the Grand Island Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Island Oasis around 4:00 p.m. and found a little girl unresponsive in the wave pool.

Grand Island City Administrator Marlan Ferguson said the water park will continue to operate as the investigation continues.

The waterpark was open and running for normal hours Sunday.