WARWICK >> State police have confirmed that a 12-year-old boy found in the water at French Creek Wednesday has died.
The Chester County Coroner’s Office released a statement Thursday afternoon stating that the boy, whom they identified as Jacob Karnchanaphati of Gilbertsville, died from accidental drowning.
State Police at Embreeville said Thursday that he had been walking around the rocks in French Creek behind the Inn at St. Peter’s Village when he slipped and fell into the fast moving water.
Emergency personnel were called to the scene just before 2 p.m. for the report of a child in the creek. Twin Valley Fire Company, Elverson-Honey Brook EMS and Lionville Fire Company boat and rope team were dispatched to assist.
An employee of the Bakery at St. Peter’s had called 911 after several people came in and said a child had been underwater for a while. The unidentified employee stated that firefighters arrived and removed the boy using a stretcher, according to reports from the scene.
Fire officers reported that the recovered victim was in cardiac arrest. First responders initiated CPR immediately upon arrival and continued during transport. Karnchanaphati was taken to Brandywine Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The incident occurred in French Creek on a stretch of rocky falls popular for hiking, swimming and picnicking. The location is across the street from a quarry where drownings and water rescues have previously taken place.
Although this incident was not at the quarry, Pennsylvania State Police said that the tragedy is prompting strict enforcement concerning swimming near the quarry as well as reminding residents of its dangers.
“This is an unfortunate incident and I hope it serves as a reminder to the youth not to go near the quarry,” said Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Officer Waleska Gonzalez. “The first thing people need to be aware of is that swimming at a private quarry can be extremely unsafe. Because we want to keep everyone safe and want to prevent another tragic incident from occurring, the Pennsylvania State Police will be consistently checking the quarry as we do every summer. Anyone caught swimming in the quarry will be cited for trespassing.”
