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Camp Counselors Leave Boy Behind At Water Park

(CBS) -- A day at the water park turned into a potentially dangerous situation for a Norridge 7-year-old, who was left behind during the field trip.

His family claims camp counselors even had warning he wasn't with them as youngsters were preparing to leave.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.

Peter Rapatas was left behind at a Hanover Park water park an hour from the camp's base, even after his 9-year-old sister tried to flag a camp counselor before getting on the bus. The incident happened earlier this week.

Sure enough, when Thalia and other campers got back to their Salvation Army camp in Norridge, the second-grader was nowhere in sight. Peter's mom says she found out when her son used a lifeguard's phone to call her.

"My mom and dad taught me," he says.

Peter's mom, Gina Rapatas, says it was 90 minutes before camp director Jeff Rowland and a counselor returned with Peter.

"I was just so mad, and I was like I can't believe you guys didn't call me," she says. "He just walked away."

The Rapatas family met with the camp director on Thursday. He apologized, but indicated safety protocols are in place, according to Peter's mother.

"They are not changing anything," she says. "They were on their way to Lincoln Park Zoo today."

Gina Rapatas says she pulled her children from the camp program and has asked for a refund.

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