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Lifeguard: Life Vest Created More Complications For Drowning Girl

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A life vest may have actually endangered a little girl rather than help her after she fell into Folsom Lake Saturday afternoon.

Lifeguard Austin Akre told CBS13 the life jacket made it hard for the girl, who was face down in the water, to turn over.

The lifeguard eventually plucked her out of the water at Beals Point around 2:30 p.m.

Another challenge he said he faced was communicating with the girl's deaf parents.

"We just had to write it down and she would circle answers for us or respond. That's unfortunate because it made the process longer, but at least we could still communicate, which is a good thing," said Akre.

The toddler was alive when she was taken to a local hospital. Her current condition is unknown.

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