A Near‑Fatal Incident at a Nike Soccer Camp
A six‑year‑old boy, identified as Adonis Jackson, was pulled from the water after nearly two minutes submerged at a Nike Soccer Camp in Washington, D.C. The camp, operated under the auspices of the University of the District of Columbia, was in the midst of a summer session when the lifeguard on duty left for a scheduled lunch break.
Radio monitoring captured a dispatcher’s alert, and staff were unable to reach the child until more than two minutes had elapsed. He was rescued, placed on a stretcher, and rushed to a nearby hospital where he remains sedated and on breathing support due to the severity of his injuries.
Questions Over Lifeguard Supervision
Calhoun Meredith, the family’s attorney, has opened an investigation into the circumstances that allowed the lifeguard to abandon his post while roughly thirty children were in the pool. Meredith has publicly questioned why it took so long for an adult to respond and has called for a thorough review of staffing protocols.
The University of the District of Columbia, which owns the facility, has announced that the pool will remain closed pending a safety audit. Officials say the incident has prompted a broader examination of emergency response plans across the camp’s programs.
The episode underscores growing concerns about child safety at commercial sports camps, especially as major brands like Nike continue to sponsor such initiatives. While Nike has not commented directly on the case, the company’s brand presence at the camp highlights the intersection of corporate sponsorship and public safety.