Mother's horror as her six-year-old son drowns on first day of $6,000 summer camp: 'They messed up'

A six-year-old boy drowned in a shallow pool on his first day at summer camp as his devastated mother says the camp 'messed up'. 

Michael Stewart from Lumberton, New Jersey, died around 2pm on Monday after staff at the Liberty Lake Day Camp found him unresponsive in the pool. 

He had been taking part in a swim session for first and second graders on the first day of camp - which costs $6,100 per child for the summer - as part of an inclusion program for children with additional or special needs. 

His mother, Enjoli Stewart, told Fox 29: 'Liberty Lakes messed up. Big time. And now I don't have a son anymore. That's heartbreaking.'

The camp said that they had plenty of staff and lifeguards working at the time, and it is not clear how he was able to drown or how long he was underwater. 

Michael Stewart from Lumberton, New Jersey, died around 2pm on Monday after staff at the Liberty Lake Day Camp found him unresponsive in the pool

He had been taking part in a swim session for first and second graders on the first day of camp

Michael was at the camp for the first day of summer break and was taking part in a free swim session when the incident happened.

A lifeguard spotted him unresponsive in the water and immediately pulled him out. 

They administered CPR, by Michael tragically died at the hospital. 

The camp said that at the time of the incident, a group leader, two counselors, and three adult advocates, one of whom was assigned to Stewart, were supervising the pool.

There were also reported four lifeguards on watch at the time. 

It is not clear how Michael drowned or how long he was underwater before the lifeguard spotted him. 

The camp reopened the pool and the camp as normal on Thursday. 

A GoFundMe set up for the family said: 'Michael came into this world a fighter from the day he was born. He was born as a Micropreemie at 23 weeks and doctors did not expect him to survive.

His mother, Enjoli Stewart, told Fox 29 : 'Liberty Lakes messed up. Big time. And now I don't have a son anymore. That's heartbreaking.'

In a letter to parents, owner and director of the camp, Andy Pritikin, said: 'I am so sorry this happened'

'Michael Jeffrey defied the odds and continued to grow into a very intelligent, loving, caring sweet boy.

'After his fight into the world, this is so tragic that on his first day of camp he would not return home that day.'   

In a letter to parents seen by Fox, owner and director of the camp, Andy Pritikin, said: 'I am so sorry this happened.

'We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken. Our thoughts at this most difficult time are with our camper's family, friends, and loved ones - and we are respecting their privacy at this time.'

He said that it is the first serious issue, injury or death in more than 20 years at the camp and that they will be introducing more safety measures, including a buddy system, at the pool.