Near-Drowning In Styx River

Alabama Baldwin County  Baldwin County Sheriff's Office now says toddler is on life support in a Pensacola Hospital
by WKRG Staff
Published: Sat, July 18, 2009 - 7:34 pm CST Last Updated: Sat, July 18, 2009 - 9:48 pm CST
The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office says a 13-month old girl was found, face down, in the waters of Styx River Saturday afternoon.
After first reporting the toddler had died, a Sheriff's Department spokesman said the child was rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital and is on life support.
The spokesman says the parents of the child left her in the care of a 7 year old boy, and was found in the river, minutes later.
The child's name has not been released.
Deputies responded to a call for help from Linholm Road, which is near the Wilcox road exit off Interstate 10.
No other details have been released.
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I do not think I would have left a 7 yr old to watch a child that young by water. I know that the parents did not think at the time that it was a problem, but it takes that splt second decision to have a fatal outcome. I pray that this little girl pulls through.  My prayers are with the little boy as well. I know I would not even leave my 2 yr old in the bath tub with only a few inches of water alone with someone that is only 7 let alone a river. Especially with all this rain that has been coming through. God bless this little boy and girl. My prayers are with them.

point blank this child should have been watched the entire time around the water. any decent parent wouldn’t turn their back on a 1 year old thats in the water or near it. too many parents are lazy these days…perfect example there are 3 children who live down the road from my family. their mother is never outside watching them. one is 12 yr old boy who’s autistic, and one 6yr old girl and a 4 yr old girl. they were even outside shortly after midnight riding their bikes and playing in the road. it’s pitiful.

Ravibb and Sirk,

The information about the 7 year old came from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
“The child was left in the care of a 7 year old by the parents and was found floating face down minutes later.”

If the media got all the facts before reporting on a story, there would be no need to tell a story because its all about sensationalism. The more horrible or gruesome they can make a story the better it sells.

How many good stories do you hear on the radio, see on TV or read in the paper? Good things don’t make money for the media.

I just want to clear up misinformation that some how the media got a hold of…there was not a seven year boy that was in charge of watching this child.  As a matter of act there was not a young boy at the drop off point at the time of the inncident. I just really wish that everyone would or could get the facts correct before putting infomation out to the readers. I can testify because I was there along with the parents, the three children and an Great Uncle. This is a horrifying accident for this family and people do not need to throw stones if they do not have the facts or they did not witness this incounter. The best thing for everyone to do is to pray for this child and the whole family.

Again, you can’t expect certain people to have any compassion for a child drowning or near drowning when they don’t even care about their own kid.  You know?  Those who don’t even have the decency to see their own child.  You know?  Those who play the “she won’t let me see my kid” card yet make no effort.  Go away.  NO ONE here likes you. 

Hope this child recovers.

“And now for the rest of the story…” Only her parents know what happened. It doesn’t sound like deputies got the story right.

Love Mercy.

This story sounds familiar. Wait, I predicted something like this happening. http://wkrg.com/171855

No, Doug was just being mean to those poor kids instead of giving them good advice. Obviously it wasn’t taken to heart.

The mother should be charged for this crime..assuming she’s the one the children were with…stupidity…thats like the blind leading the blind…nither of them should have been left alone near waters!! PERIOD NO EXCUSE!

Pray that this baby comes through without brain damage. Pray not only for the sake of the baby itself, but also for the 7-year-old boy who will probably live with the guilt forever, even if we know how undeserved his guilt is. There are places that allowing a 7-year-old to watch a younger sibling is all right, like in the den while the mom is outside for a moment, for example. But, at a creek/river? That’s unfortunately not the best decision.

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