HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Authorities are investigating a drowning accident in which a child drowned at a west Houston fitness club over the weekend.

Officers with the Houston Police Department responded to a 911 call about a drowning in the Briar Forest neighborhood at Club Westside on Wilcrest Drive around 4 p.m. Sunday.

HPD said the 7-year-old girl was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, where she was pronounced dead.

ABC13 spoke to someone who claimed to have witnessed the incident but wished to remain anonymous out of respect for the situation.

This person said it happened during a birthday party at the club’s main family pool.

They said everything was normal at the pool until a woman started screaming.

“It was a very terrible cry for help,” said the eyewitness. “We looked at the woman and she pointed into the water.”

According to the witness, two lifeguards were on duty, but police said the circumstances of the incident were still being investigated.

Eyewitness News has asked the club for comment, but they declined to comment.

Dr. David Persse, Houston’s chief medical examiner, was not involved in the case but said it illustrates the fact that many drowning accidents happen silently.

“On TV and in movies, the impression is created that there is a lot of splashing and cries for help when someone drowns,” said Persse. “Most drowning accidents happen silently.”

Persse also wanted to remind the public that a small amount of water can be fatal for a lifetime.

He cited examples of children drowning after falling into a large bucket of water in a customer’s backyard after a rainstorm.

“There is no safety from drowning,” he said.

Persse also advised parents to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

For updates follow Chaz Miller on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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