Any update on the near drowning on RC?

[Hundredacre]

At eight years old my wife was allowed to hop the Monorail from the Contemporary and go to the Magic Kingdom by herself.

that's so funny--- me too!

 

[hanscarlet]

yes at 8 this is just really tragic, i can see this happening to anyone because that's a pretty safe age for kids to do things on their own on the ship, especially if the pool is crowded and you just make assumptions that everything is going to be alright on vacation... I think I blame the people in the pool more, I can't imagine no one even seeing the kid sitting at the bottom of the pool, as a society we should try and help each other out more in my opinion instead of take the whole "mind my own business route" sometimes

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't imagine no one even seeing the kid sitting at the bottom of the pool

Sitting at the bottom of the pool?

Someone on CC mentioned that they had never seen the pools crowded around that time on that itinerary. It's possible there was no plan to have the boy in the pool at all. There might not have been many people there. The reports are talking about how he was in there 8-10 minutes, but how would anyone know that if they only knew he was there once they found him? Could be more that he was last SEEN 8-10 minutes before he was found.

I'm not sure about how the pools look on Anthem, but on Freedom there's a spot (that's adults only but that doesn't stop anyone, it sometimes seems) just under some windows and with a bridge over top, and one could easily not be seen there.

I'm cynical, but not so cynical as to think people just walked by a kid facedown in the pool without watching to make sure he was moving and therefore just experiencing the sensation of floating (my brother and I did that alllll the time as kids when we were in a pool). They probably just didn't see him until they saw and *found* him.

 

[hanscarlet]

well I guess I am making the assumption that the pool was very crowded and that's why the parents didn't really think to notice if he was missing since there was probably a lot of busy kids running around... if he was at the bottom of a pool and the pool wasn't crowded then you're correct that the people in the pool wouldn't be to blame... I just have a hard to understanding how no one could see it but then again depending on the time and situation I am sure it's possible

 

[jdb in AZ]

When I was about 10, I attended a backyard pool party when one of the other kids nearly drowned. She wasn't floating on top of the water, she was 2-3 feet under water. If that's the case on the RCCL accident, he would have been harder to spot than someone floating on top.

 

[phinz]

From what I remember, nobody noticed the little one on the Fantasy until he bumped up against somebody else's leg and was about 2-3' underwater.

 

[Hundredacre]

yes at 8 this is just really tragic, i can see this happening to anyone because that's a pretty safe age for kids to do things on their own on the ship, especially if the pool is crowded and you just make assumptions that everything is going to be alright on vacation... I think I blame the people in the pool more, I can't imagine no one even seeing the kid sitting at the bottom of the pool, as a society we should try and help each other out more in my opinion instead of take the whole "mind my own business route" sometimes

Years ago we were at a wdw pool with our two kids around ages 4 and 9. At that time the younger one had not had a lot of exposure to pools. (We had tried swimming lessons but he had refused to get in the pool. Even the teacher was at a loss.) My dh and i sat down at some of the only remaining loungers which happened to be closer to the deeper part. The kids took off toward he other side of the pool- the entrance area with the steps. I was surprised that they just took off like that, the younger one following the older one and the older one not paying attention to the younger one. So I was watching the younger one (my husband was not) approach the steps of the pool and I assumed he would put his feet in or sit on the steps. He did not like pools, right? The pool was crowded but not packed. There were about three or so adults in the pool in the area he was approaching, one man who could literally touch him. It was 3 ft max in that area. There were lots of other adults throughout the pool but three who definitely could have grabbed him in a second. I watched almost as if my life was in slow motion as that crazy kid walked down the steps and continued walking, not pausing for a moment. He did not sit on the steps as I thought he would. I popped up mid sentence and started walking in that direction. As he walked in and became fully submerged I thought for some reason one of the adults would grab him, but no one even noticed him. He was underwater and I started to run and scream, "help him," and no one noticed me. There were adults right next to him who were completely oblivious to what was going on. Even after I raced to the water and pulled him up, no one even noticed what I was doing. He was under the water for I don't know-at most 20 seconds, probably more like 10, and he was fine. Scared, but fine. I may have over reacted some, but if I had not been watching his every move or been distracted for a moment- awful to think. What really surprised me was how completely unaware everyone around was. Even though I jumped in the pool with a cover up and performed what i thought was a dramatic rescue, no one even noticed us! They were talking or playing with their own kids. I realized then why lifeguards are so important. Pools can be so loud and frenetic that it is hard for people to notice anyone. I also realized, even if they had seen him underwater they probably would have assumed he was swimming. Come to think of it while this was going on no one was watching our older child (who was a really great swimmer so we were less concerned)! But it was all in a matter of seconds. Those ships need lifeguards. I am not a big regulation person, but they need lifeguards.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Years ago we were at a wdw pool with our two kids around ages 4 and 9. At that time the younger one had not had a lot of exposure to pools. (We had tried swimming lessons but he had refused to get in the pool. Even the teacher was at a loss.) My dh and i sat down at some of the only remaining loungers which happened to be closer to the deeper part. The kids took off toward he other side of the pool- the entrance area with the steps. I was surprised that they just took off like that, the younger one following the older one and the older one not paying attention to the younger one. So I was watching the younger one (my husband was not) approach the steps of the pool and I assumed he would put his feet in or sit on the steps. He did not like pools, right? The pool was crowded but not packed. There were about three or so adults in the pool in the area he was approaching, one man who could literally touch him. It was 3 ft max in that area. There were lots of other adults throughout the pool but three who definitely could have grabbed him in a second. I watched almost as if my life was in slow motion as that crazy kid walked down the steps and continued walking, not pausing for a moment. He did not sit on the steps as I thought he would. I popped up mid sentence and started walking in that direction. As he walked in and became fully submerged I thought for some reason one of the adults would grab him, but no one even noticed him. He was underwater and I started to run and scream, "help him," and no one noticed me. There were adults right next to him who were completely oblivious to what was going on. Even after I raced to the water and pulled him up, no one even noticed what I was doing. He was under the water for I don't know-at most 20 seconds, probably more like 10, and he was fine. Scared, but fine. I may have over reacted some, but if I had not been watching his every move or been distracted for a moment- awful to think. What really surprised me was how completely unaware everyone around was. Even though I jumped in the pool with a cover up and performed what i thought was a dramatic rescue, no one even noticed us! They were talking or playing with their own kids. I realized then why lifeguards are so important. Pools can be so loud and frenetic that it is hard for people to notice anyone. I also realized, even if they had seen him underwater they probably would have assumed he was swimming. Come to think of it while this was going on no one was watching our older child (who was a really great swimmer so we were less concerned)! But it was all in a matter of seconds. Those ships need lifeguards. I am not a big regulation person, but they need lifeguards.

My son did this when he was 3. Just walked from the kiddie pool over to the big pool, down the steps, and into the water without a pause. Luckily I was only a yard or two behind him and grabbed him out but I was shocked he did that. I think he forgot he wasn't wearing his life jacket because he had been in the kiddie pool.

 

[TestingH2O]

DD is just learning to swim. Even on our cruise in May, she really couldn't do anything. With just a couple more months of lessons, she can now swim underwater for several feet and pretty reliably get to the wall. However, I never let her in the water by herself. When I'm in the water with her, I'm pretty laser focused.

I hate to admit it, but I don't know if I'd notice another kid slide under the water even if it was very close. About the only thing that enters my consciousness is the lifeguard whistle. It's sobering for me to think that, if I don't know if I'd notice another kid while I was watching my own, I don't think I'd reasonably be able to assume another adult would. It's very different than a playground where I can more easily have a wider field of view. As much as I think our society turns a blind eye sometimes, this is a situation I don't think I can honestly say I'd do any better in.

I'm not a helicopter mom, but I take water very seriously. The year before I started my current job, a little girl drowned at a back to school party. I think of that little girl often and it breaks my heart.

 

[Kenny1113]

Sitting at the bottom of the pool?

Someone on CC mentioned that they had never seen the pools crowded around that time on that itinerary. It's possible there was no plan to have the boy in the pool at all. There might not have been many people there. The reports are talking about how he was in there 8-10 minutes, but how would anyone know that if they only knew he was there once they found him? Could be more that he was last SEEN 8-10 minutes before he was found.

I'm not sure about how the pools look on Anthem, but on Freedom there's a spot (that's adults only but that doesn't stop anyone, it sometimes seems) just under some windows and with a bridge over top, and one could easily not be seen there.

I'm cynical, but not so cynical as to think people just walked by a kid facedown in the pool without watching to make sure he was moving and therefore just experiencing the sensation of floating (my brother and I did that alllll the time as kids when we were in a pool). They probably just didn't see him until they saw and *found* him.

Whenever we are at a public pool I see kids doing this often. It freaks me out so much, I'm always checking to make sure they move, even though they are not my kids.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We used to get in trouble if we did the dead man's float (face down still floating). Parents weren't amused at all. That was usually a sure-fire way to get sat out for 30 minutes.

When I see kids doing the float I'll grab their arm or leg. Scares them, usually. But hey, I know they didn't drown.

 

[Ofinn]

Sad story. I was just thinking the Anthem is having a bad year. It seems like this is at least the third time they have made headlines.

 

[Jillpie]

Years ago we were at a wdw pool with our two kids around ages 4 and 9. At that time the younger one had not had a lot of exposure to pools. (We had tried swimming lessons but he had refused to get in the pool. Even the teacher was at a loss.) My dh and i sat down at some of the only remaining loungers which happened to be closer to the deeper part. The kids took off toward he other side of the pool- the entrance area with the steps. I was surprised that they just took off like that, the younger one following the older one and the older one not paying attention to the younger one. So I was watching the younger one (my husband was not) approach the steps of the pool and I assumed he would put his feet in or sit on the steps. He did not like pools, right? The pool was crowded but not packed. There were about three or so adults in the pool in the area he was approaching, one man who could literally touch him. It was 3 ft max in that area. There were lots of other adults throughout the pool but three who definitely could have grabbed him in a second. I watched almost as if my life was in slow motion as that crazy kid walked down the steps and continued walking, not pausing for a moment. He did not sit on the steps as I thought he would. I popped up mid sentence and started walking in that direction. As he walked in and became fully submerged I thought for some reason one of the adults would grab him, but no one even noticed him. He was underwater and I started to run and scream, "help him," and no one noticed me. There were adults right next to him who were completely oblivious to what was going on. Even after I raced to the water and pulled him up, no one even noticed what I was doing. He was under the water for I don't know-at most 20 seconds, probably more like 10, and he was fine. Scared, but fine. W I may have over reacted some, but if I had not been watching his every move or been distracted for a moment- awful to think. What really surprised me was how completely unaware everyone around was. Even though I jumped in the pool with a cover up and performed what i thought was a dramatic rescue, no one even noticed us! They were talking or playing with their own kids. I realized then why lifeguards are so important. Pools can be so loud and frenetic that it is hard for people to notice anyone. I also realized, even if they had seen him underwater they probably would have assumed he was swimming. Come to think of it while this was going on no one was watching our older child (who was a really great swimmer so we were less concerned)! But it was all in a matter of seconds. Those ships need lifeguards. I am not a big regulation person, but they need lifeguards.

Wow. I think that was the most scariest thing I have ever read in my whole life. Outstanding job Mom. You literally saved your son's life that day. I have three sons, luckily no close calls like that, but wow you really had me there for a minute. I could feel how inviting that pool was to your son too, omg that is a chilling story, so happy it has a great ending.

 

[darnheather]

This is a really important article and video if you plan to spend any time around water this summer. And rewatch each year!

http://www.slate.com/articles/healt...o_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thank you for posting that. It's definitely something to keep in mind.

 

[Jillpie]

Any update from the local folks about this boy today in their news?

 

[Vijoge]

My DGD's, 11, 8, 5, all love the water and the older two are fairly capable swimmers. The 5 y/o, however, has no fear and thinks she can do everything her older sisters do. She's the one I'd worry about. Fortunately, she's learned there's no going in the water without grandma or grandpa. But would I trust her to remember that on a cruse ship? Nope.

 

[Yesenia2388]

http://www.people.com/article/royal-caribbean-anthem-of-the-seas-boy-drowns

Written six hours ago.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2016/07/no_update_on_8-year-old_boy_who_nearly_drowned_on.html

50 minutes ago.

omg how terrible!!

 

[Yesenia2388]

This is so tragic!

 

[Vijoge]

oops