The Southern Nevada Health District cited Cowabunga Bay only days after a 5-year-old boy nearly drowned at the Henderson based water park in May.

The agency received a complaint about the water park's life guard coverage only a day after the incident, according to documents reviewed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Cowabunga Bay was cited for a number of safety violations by the health district report from May 29. These included lacking proper water safety signage like emergency procedure signs and "No Diving" signs, which are required by Nevada state law.

Further problems were discovered on June 9 during a normal annual inspection. The health district found that only 8 of the required 17 lifeguards were working.

In a press release after the near drowning, Cowabunga Bay General Manager Shane Huish stated,

I am extremely proud of our staff and how quickly they responded to the situation. Right now our concern is with the health and well-being of those involved.

It is not known whether or not Cowabunga Bay is suffering from the lifeguard shortage that has affected water parks in other states. Also, as the Review-Journal article notes, there many things to consider when hiring qualified lifeguards. Read More