12-year-old in Richland river swimming accident remains in a coma

The 12-year-old girl in a swimming accident June 19 at Howard Amon Park in Richland remains in a coma at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

A GoFundMe account has been started to help with her medical expenses and her family’s costs as they stay with her in Spokane.

The girl, identified only as Lily for the fundraiser, was swimming with two friends under adult supervision when she jumped off a dock into the Columbia River and did not resurface.

Someone her family did not know found her under the water after about five to seven minutes. CPR was performed until medics arrived.

She spent six hours in the emergency department at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland before she was stable enough to be flown to the pediatric intensive care unit at the Spokane hospital.

Although she suffered brain injuries, her condition is improving, according to information posted on GoFundMe.

When released from the hospital, she will need ongoing medical care and extensive rehabilitation, according to the fundraiser.

This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 8:56 PM.