UTAH
4-year-old ‘extremely critical’ after nearly drowning
Jun 6, 2018, 7:49 AM | Updated: 10:16 am
WEST VALLEY CITY – A 4-year-old girl is fighting for her life after nearly drowning in a West Valley swimming pool.
Mariangel Hernandez, 8, saw the 4-year-old girl at the bottom of the pool and screamed for her father.
“Then he went to take off his shoes, and then he went faster to go get that girl,” Hernandez said. “He got her, and then I helped him to put her on the floor.”
Police pumped most of the water out of the victim at the apartment complex near 3100 Decker Lake Lane.
The girl went to the hospital in critical condition. Witnesses think the mother knew her daughter was playing outdoors, but unaware she had entered the pool area.
Still, Hernandez was proud of her father.
“I was so surprised that he saved that girl because that girl could have died if he wasn’t there,” Hernandez said.
This is the Salt Lake Valley’s third accident near water for children in the past week.
More tips for parents to keep kids safe around water can be found at kidshealth.org.