WHEELERSBURG- A child died Sunday evening as a result of drowning in the pool of a local hotel.

The call was received by the Scioto County 911 center at 6:09 p.m. Sunday. The call was from the Quality Inn in Wheelersburg, according to Sheriff David Thoroughman. The child’s name has been confirmed to be Mackenzie Cornell.

Thoroughman said the 911 calls came in about two children who had drowned. The call came from the Quality Inn in Wheelersburg, and the caller advised that people were performing CPR on the children.

Porter Township Rescue Squad was dispatched along with a deputy. One child had been resuscitated prior to the arrival of the rescue squad. Portsmouth Ambulance responded and evaluated this child. The father of the children transported this child to Southern Ohio Medical Center.

EMS workers took over CPR on Mackenzie and moved her to the emergency squad. Porter EMS continued CPR and transported Mackenzie to SOMC, where she was later pronounced deceased.

The investigation revealed the two children were attending a pool party when the younger child fell into the pool and the older sister attempted to pull her out. The older child was unsuccessful and went under the water as well. The two children were later discovered and removed from the water and CPR was immediately administered while 911 was called.

Thoroughman said the two children were ages 9 and 11.

This is still an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Tackett-Dye at (740) 351-1099.

Bloom-Vernon Local Schools, where Mackenzie was a student, is offering counseling from noon to 2 p.m. at the elementary school this week through Friday, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the community church.

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