Drowning?? Arts of animation

[LOL!]

The hand of fate defies all logic in a cruel and heartless manner. I would never think that I could figure out why someone else wasn't able to outsmart it. I can only reflect on the sadness of a young and innocent life being lost.

 

[sndral]

Some sobering statistics, death from drowning is the second leading cause of death in children under age 12 in the US.
Many drownings are preventable, note I say many - not all.
There is insufficient evidence in this case to either color the parents blameless or blame worthy.
It is scary to realize that it can happen so quickly (perhaps within minutes) and apparently in a pool with both lifeguards and other swimmers - who among us would not have rescued the little boy if we'd seen him go in?
Perhaps it's the mom in me, but I'm always sort of aware of lone/stray children who may have become lost and keep an eye on them until a parental type hovers into view. Just really scary that even with lifeguards and other people in a fenced and gated pool area this could happen.
Some thoughts about how to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again - note I am not suggesting any of these would have made a difference in this case, I'm just suggesting things each of us can do:
Life jackets are your friend - they may save your non swimming child's life.
Close the pool gate behind you, the toddler tagging along with that family you graciously let in may be a stray/lost child.
If you see stray unattended children alert a cm/lifeguard even if your first thought is it's none of your business @ a minimum keep an eye on them until you notice that someone is connected with them and watching them.
It's tempting to have a few drinks while sitting by the pool after a long day in the parks chatting with your relatives/friends while the kids play in the pool - but don't have so many that you lose track of the time and what your kids are up to.

 

[Alex269]

So sad.

 

[slickpoetry]

This is really a terrible tragedy. Does anyone know what nationality the boy was from? Someone is collecting money claiming to be his aunt, but when I asked his name she didn't know. I'm really confused and want to help, but something is not right. Any additional information would be helpful. Thanks!

God. People are just awful.

My understanding is the boy was from New York, but don't take my word as gospel on the matter.

I am sure that person who doesn't know her "nephews" name is a scammer.

 

[anniemae]

Some sobering statistics, death from drowning is the second leading cause of death in children under age 12 in the US.
Many drownings are preventable, note I say many - not all.
There is insufficient evidence in this case to either color the parents blameless or blame worthy.
It is scary to realize that it can happen so quickly (perhaps within minutes) and apparently in a pool with both lifeguards and other swimmers - who among us would not have rescued the little boy if we'd seen him go in?
Perhaps it's the mom in me, but I'm always sort of aware of lone/stray children who may have become lost and keep an eye on them until a parental type hovers into view. Just really scary that even with lifeguards and other people in a fenced and gated pool area this could happen.
Some thoughts about how to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again - note I am not suggesting any of these would have made a difference in this case, I'm just suggesting things each of us can do:
Life jackets are your friend - they may save your non swimming child's life.
Close the pool gate behind you, the toddler tagging along with that family you graciously let in may be a stray/lost child.
If you see stray unattended children alert a cm/lifeguard even if your first thought is it's none of your business @ a minimum keep an eye on them until you notice that someone is connected with them and watching them.
It's tempting to have a few drinks while sitting by the pool after a long day in the parks chatting with your relatives/friends while the kids play in the pool - but don't have so many that you lose track of the time and what your kids are up to.

I am wondering if this is what happened. Child wanders from family, easily slides through the gate. With the crowds of people around the pool, people coming and going, it's hard to tell who is with who.

 

[Alex269]

Thanks SP,

 

[AZ TX]

I feel bad for everyone involved. Obviously my deepest condolences to the family. It doesn't matter who's fault it was, it doesn't change the fact that a sweet child is gone. I'd like to point out that the lifeguards here appear to be very alert and this happened in the side of the pool where the lifeguard is constantly looking and moving.

This is probably the most tragic event I've witnessed. My children, four and one, didn't know what was going on. I just feel so bad that while my children were running through the splash pad there was a family losing a member. So heart breaking.

Just hug your loved ones, you don't know if/when something like this could happen.

I could not agree more I was just there. we swam in the pool every evening. we checked out Monday before the drowning I watched the lifeguards there were at least 3 to 4 of them at all times walking up and down checking signaling to each other when they needed to break they seemed attentive I can't understand how a three year old could get away from the parents how long did it take for them to realize was he wearing a life jacket all these things running through my mind it just breaks my heart for all involved even the lifeguards on duty I'm sure they feel blame this could of happened in the blink of an eye and there were times when tje pool was was pretty crowded and all I can say is they probably just didn't see it happen. Prayers for the family

 

[mefordis]

I belong to a pool in my town and there are a good 6 lifeguards and each one of them is perched on top of a lifeguard tower/chair. They have their eyes trained down on their section of the pool. They get to know their area of the pool and who is in it and never really seem to turn away. I am thinking if the lifeguards were walking around, circling the pool, there is no way they can see if someone is in the middle of the pool has sunk underwater quietly.

 

[JillShari]

The three year old toddler did not make it.

The family was there celebrating his third birthday on Sunday. Over 50 family members traveled to ORL to celebrate with him. Most had returned home prior to this sad event.

Please don't blame a single person for the drowning.

How tragic! My heart goes out to his family.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I belong to a pool in my town and there are a good 6 lifeguards and each one of them is perched on top of a lifeguard tower/chair. They have their eyes trained down on their section of the pool. They get to know their area of the pool and who is in it and never really seem to turn away. I am thinking if the lifeguards were walking around, circling the pool, there is no way they can see if someone is in the middle of the pool has sunk underwater quietly.

I believe Disney has both lifeguards on top of towers as well as lifeguards that circulate. I don't believe it is either/or.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

It is a very sad and tragic accident. Prayers to the family and everyone involved.

 

[Disneylover99]

I believe Disney has both lifeguards on top of towers as well as lifeguards that circulate. I don't believe it is either/or.

You're right. They are on the towers and circulating. If you ask them questions, they will answer you, but they never take their eyes off the pool.

 

[tink9702]

such a tragedy, a little baby boy lost in a sad sad accident. The family will never recover.

I worked as a lifeguard in my late teens and early 20's. It was an absolute nerve-wracking job sometimes when you had people at the beach or pool who you knew weren't watching young kids well. I had a handful of incidents with near drownings where I was able to save the child in question. Sometimes it was an older child who could swim but got tired, sometimes a young one where the parent turned for a second and down they went. It never mattered to me as the lifeguard. What mattered is that they didn't drown. I truly feel for the lifeguards, responders, EMT, hospital staff that couldn't save that little baby. I hope they are able to find peace.

 

[anniemae]

The three year old toddler did not make it.

The family was there celebrating his third birthday on Sunday. Over 50 family members traveled to ORL to celebrate with him. Most had returned home prior to this sad event.

Please don't blame a single person for the drowning.

So sad for everyone, just heartbreaking. Can I ask how you know this info? I have searched and have found no updates, just the basic info from last night. Just wondering if you were there.

 

[bookgirl]

I believe we had the fence conversation last year during the WL pool renovation.

Florida law requires a pool fence. Most Disney pools (except AoA) were built before the law and thus grandfathered in.

However as Dinsney renovates those areas they lose their status and fences must be added.

 

[bookgirl]

I lost my 3year old nephew at a festival once. There were three adults two pre teen boys and the three year old twins. I am vigilant, I believe it can happen to anyone.

My brother fell asleep one afternoon and the same twins now 5. Pulled a chair to the back door of his condo unlocked the hinge lock and went out to play in the creek. He was shaken, and installed a better lock and scared the little boys to death if they ever went near the creek without an adult. Again it can happen to anyone.

I was an explorer, happened multiple times. My mom finally just made sure I had a plan (name address, phone number, name of the adult I was with) and knew to go to an adult as soon as I realized I had wondered off from her again. My mother was an original helicopter mom and I finally broke her of that by the time I was 10. She was super overprotective but I wandered away often and actually enjoyed being on my own. She had to adapt, but if my mom could lose a child anyone can.

 

[calypso_nz]

I have a 3 year old and all day long my heart has been breaking for this family. I lost my three year old at Great Wolf Lodge in February. I was standing at the bottom of the slide, her father was standing at the top. My parents were sitting at a table beside the pool that she had to pass on her way up the stairs to her father. Around and around she went. And not one of us noticed when he hopped in the lazy river nearby. She was wearing a puddle jumper and has had perpetual swimming lessons since she was 11 months old. We thought she was safe to circle around the pool by herself. All the kids were doing it. But we took our eyes off her and she hopped in another pool where her head was barely above the water. She was in the middle of a tube when the lifeguards finally found her. She was not immediately visible to anyone. Both my father and I checked the lazy river within seconds of realizing she'd wandered off. There but for the grace of God go I.....

As an aside, when I was 6, my 5 year old brother who could swim was swept out of a shallow rock pool where he had been playing with our cousins and siblings. There were 11 children and 3 adults in that pool, including our 10 month old sister, 18 month old cousin and 3 year old brother who couldn't walk at the time. And yet the 5 year old who could swim was the child swept away. He drowned. I have witnessed first hand the agony that parents face in a situation like this and hope that the uninformed masses showed my parents a little more compassion and a whole lot more sympathy than a few of you have exhibited today.

 

[Disneylover99]

So sad for everyone, just heartbreaking. Can I ask how you know this info? I have searched and have found no updates, just the basic info from last night. Just wondering if you were there.

I was wondering if maybe the poster was part of the little boy's family.

I've said it before in this thread, but I'll say it again. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.

 

[Disneylover99]

I have a 3 year old and all day long my heart has been breaking for this family. I lost my three year old at Great Wolf Lodge in February. I was standing at the bottom of the slide, her father was standing at the top. My parents were sitting at a table beside the pool that she had to pass on her way up the stairs to her father. Around and around she went. And not one of us noticed when he hopped in the lazy river nearby. She was wearing a puddle jumper and has had perpetual swimming lessons since she was 11 months old. We thought she was safe to circle around the pool by herself. All the kids were doing it. But we took our eyes off her and she hopped in another pool where her head was barely above the water. She was in the middle of a tube when the lifeguards finally found her. She was not immediately visible to anyone. Both my father and I checked the lazy river within seconds of realizing she'd wandered off. There but for the grace of God go I.....

As an aside, when I was 6, my 5 year old brother who could swim was swept out of a shallow rock pool where he had been playing with our cousins and siblings. There were 11 children and 3 adults in that pool, including our 10 month old sister, 18 month old cousin and 3 year old brother who couldn't walk at the time. And yet the 5 year old who could swim was the child swept away. He drowned. I have witnessed first hand the agony that parents face in a situation like this and hope that the uninformed masses showed my parents a little more compassion and a whole lot more sympathy than a few of you have exhibited today.

OMG....I am so, so, sorry for your loss.

 

[anniemae]

I was wondering if maybe the poster was part of the little boy's family.

I've said it before in this thread, but I'll say it again. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.

Same here. I just can't stop thinking of them.