Westhill Athletes Sickened By Swim In Untreated Pool; Coach Placed On Leave

STAMFORD, Conn. -- A Stamford swim coach remained on leave Thursday while school officials investigate complaints that several student-athletes became ill after using an unchlorinated pool, according to school district spokeswoman Sharon Beadle.

The Stamford school district is looking into complaints that several student athletes became ill after being made to practice in an uncholrinated pool at Westhill High School. The pool has since been recholrinated, tested and deemed safe.
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Carol Reif

10/27/2016 1:35 p.m.

Rick Lewis, who has coached the Westhill-Stamford boys and girls swimming teams for close to 40 years, and an unidentified assistant were instructed not to contact the swimmers while the probe was underway, according to a report by The Stamford Advocate.

The pool in question has since been tested, rechlorinated and determined safe to use, The Stamford Advocate said.

A meet, hosting a swimming team from Trumbull, originally set for Monday, will take place Friday, Beadle confirmed.

A representative of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Conference said the regional diving championships are expected to go on at Westhill High School next week as planned, The Stamford Advocate said.

While Beadle could not comment on the students’ alleged symptoms, The Stamford Advocate reported that they were recovering and that team members were able to practice in community pools while the situation at the high school was resolved.

To read The Stamford Advocate report, click here.

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