Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Turns out, the 8th grade Pava'ia'i Elementary School student who died Wednesday afternoon following a drowning accident at the Pala Lagoon Swimming Center was not escorted to meet the EMS unit by a DOE vehicle. Instead, according to an eyewitness, it was a truck belonging to Paramount Builders that transported the girl from the Swimming Center to Nuuuli where paramedics were standing by to take her to LBJ.

Cops are reported to have started their investigation into the accident, and they are looking for witnesses who can provide helpful insight on the events that led to the fatal drowning. Samoa News sat down yesterday with an eyewitness who was there from the moment CPR was administered, to when the girl was transported to meet the EMS.

According to the eyewitness, workers from Paramount Builders were working in the area and from what she saw — and heard — kids were running around unsupervised in the pool area. She said this was her conclusion, as the kids were continuously shouting profane words and not one adult put a stop to it.

"All I heard were cuss words being shouted by the kids," the eyewitness told Samoa News yesterday. "I then looked towards the tent that was set up outside the fence surrounding the Swimming Center and I noticed that the teachers — who were supposedly there to chaperone the kids — were under the tent prepping food items, and some were smoking."

The eyewitness said she made a quick run to a nearby hardware store and when she returned, she noticed that all the Paramount workers had stopped what they were doing, and they were all looking towards the pool.

"I asked the guys what was going on. I though a fight had broke out. But then they told me that a girl had drowned. I immediately thought 'CPR. CPR' and that's when I ran towards the gate," said the witness — who is CPR certified — however she said the gate she was headed to was locked, and only one gate was open.

She said she stood at the fence and saw everything unfold.

She said she first noticed that at the deep end of one of the pools, a man was administering CPR. "I don't know if the man was a lifeguard, a teacher, or just a parent but I do know he was doing his best to resuscitate the girl," said the teary-eyed witness. She added that the man was assisted by another male, who was sitting at the girl's head, and a Paramount worker who was giving the girl mouth-to-mouth.

According to the witness, one of the school officials came over and was calling the girl's name, lightly kicking her on the leg and telling her to wake up. The witness said one of the Swimming Center officials — a female — came over to render assistance and also tried to administer CPR.

The witness said the Pala Lagoon official asked the teacher, "What happened? Where were you guys?" and the teacher said, "We were outside." The Swimming Center official then said, in Samoan, "This is exactly why I told you guys to keep a watchful eye on the kids."

The witness said the teacher had called for EMS assistance and in less than 10 minutes, the decision was made to take the girl to LBJ. The witness said the girl was bleeding from the nose and she was foaming at the mouth. She added that gasping sounds could be heard when CPR was being administered, but the girl remained motionless.

A Paramount worker carried the girl's lifeless body on to the back of a Paramount truck and two of the company's workers, along with the man who was administering CPR, and another man — a passerby — who hopped in the back of the truck, then sped off to meet the EMS unit. The truck was escorted by police.

The witness said the girl was transferred to an EMS unit waiting in front of the former Ocean Star Store in Nuuuli. The girl was transported to the LBJ where she was later pronounced dead.

Not one teacher followed the truck, said the witness, who added that none of the teachers had offered to escort the girl in the ambulance either.

"It's just so sad," the emotional witness said. "I couldn't sleep that night and I can't get her face out of my head. I watched in agony and thought about my own child. This is a parent's worst nightmare."

One teacher who contacted Samoa News claims that contrary to reports that permission slips were signed by parents, some parents claim they don't know anything about any permission slips.

It is unclear at this time how many students and teachers were there that day, but according to one teacher's statement to Samoa News, there were over 100 students and only about a handful of teachers there to watch them.

"There should be a limit on how many people can be at the pool — at one time — and a student-to-teacher ratio should be in effect when hosting a big group like this," said one local educator.

While some people are putting the blame on the Pala Lagoon staff, the majority are pointing to the teachers, saying they should have been more keen on watching the kids. Samoa News should point out that there are signs at the Swimming Center, indicating that there is NO lifeguard on duty.

One parent called in and said the teachers are claiming that the kids were told not to go to the deep end of the pool.

"How do you tell a kid not to get into the pool and then turn your back on them and expect them to listen?" she asked. "That is neglect."

Samoa News was unable to confirm what action DOE will be taking but numerous Facebook posts of the girl's death have netted over a thousand comments from people who don't know her and her family personally. The girl's mother even posted that she regrets allowing her daughter to go on the field trip, but she knows God has other plans.

Samoa News witnessed at the hospital, the girl's father sobbing over her body.

The girl would have graduated today and in two days, her dad will be celebrating Father's Day without her.

Samoa News offers its condolences to the family of the deceased girl.