The Region - News from July 27, 1987

A family reunion ended in tragedy in Mesquite, Tex., when a 3-year-old boy from Los Angeles drowned in a whirlpool spa, despite efforts by relatives to revive him. Jacob Alda, the only son of Al and Ruth Alda, was pronounced dead at Mesquite Community Hospital, police said. The boy and his 24-year-old mother were visiting the boy’s aunt, Becky Hall, and decided to go swimming after lunch. The boy fell into the spa while his mother and grandfather, Carl Hall, were swimming in the pool nearby, Becky Hall said. Both rushed to pull him out and Carl Hall, a former volunteer paramedic, began resuscitation efforts immediately, aided by a daughter-in-law who is a registered nurse. “It was ironic that they knew what to do and did it and still couldn’t save him,” the aunt said.