Police seek solutions to prevent drowning

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A 10-year-old girl drowned while she was swimming with her family in a restricted area of Lake Mohegan. Police say there were signs posted warning people of the potential dangers of the water.

10-year-old Catherine Trujillo drowned Tuesday night. Her parents struggled to save her, but she slipped away.

"To lose a child is one thing, to witness the loss is a different thing," said Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara.

She and others were swimming in an area not designated for swimming. There are signs posted nearby that read "No Swimming," but police are now considering adding more so this tragedy doesn't repeat itself.

MacNamara says he can't stress enough how important it is to swim in the designated swimming areas only. He says that way there are lifeguards there to keep an eye on you and they know the depth of the water.

At Lake Mohegan there's a reason why swimmers are only allowed to be in designated swim areas. The water there gradually changes depth, but once outside the swim area it becomes very unpredictable.

"So the drops are significant drops in the matter of one step," MacNamara explained. "It can go from two feet to 15 feet in a second."

He says it takes just one second to drown.

"It has a lot to do with the shock the confusion," he said. "Have from going from three to 15 feet, so she may have been an okay swimmer, but the moment you panic and lot of things happen."