Teen dies after drowning emergency at OKANA during his birthday, graduation celebration
By Olivia Hickey
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A teenager died after a drowning call at OKANA Resort on Friday while celebrating his birthday and graduation.
Family identifies teenager pulled from water Peter Ekpo, the teenager’s father, said a large group of family members and loved ones made a trip to the waterpark to celebrate his son’s 18th birthday and high school graduation. Instead of looking forward to celebrating his future, they are now making funeral arrangements.
The teenager was identified as Chidera Maurice Peter.
“All the kids are traumatized as I speak with you,” Peter Ekpo said.
After years of health issues for Chidera Peter, his father said the celebrations were supposed to be especially meaningful.
What led up to the emergency call? At about 3 p.m. Friday, emergency crews responded to a drowning call at OKANA in Oklahoma City. The teenager was pulled from water deeper than what he was used to, according to his father.
“What they are used to is a slide that rolls into shallow water,” Peter Ekpo said. “All along, we’ve been going to pools that are four feet, five feet deep. We’ve never been to that depth before because he can’t swim.”
Oklahoma City firefighters said a lifeguard pulled the teenager out of the water, and firefighters assisted with lifesaving care.
The teenager’s father said his son was taken to a hospital, where he died at about midnight Saturday.
Oklahoma City police said there won’t be a criminal investigation.
KOCO 5 reached out to OKANA, and the resort said they could not provide additional details, but they are cooperating with police, and their hearts are with the family.
KOCO also reached out to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office for the autopsy report. The office confirmed an autopsy was complete, but additional testing was needed.
Officials said cases are typically completed within 90 days.
Who was Chidera? The teenager’s father said Chidera Peter’s loved ones have been reflecting on his life that was cut short.
“Everybody who knows him knows he’s a Godly child. He loves anything that has to do with God. Every Sunday, we go to church as a family,” Peter Ekpo said. “His friends have been coming to the house. His friends—some are devastated. The parents, even kids I never met before, none of them have said anything bad about him.”
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