Authorities are currently looking into the tragic incident that led to the drowning of a 2-year-old girl in a Decatur, Georgia pool earlier this month, as reported by the family’s lawyer.
The incident happened at the Oakhurst pool on September 19, as the victim, Poppy Pepper, attended her 8-year-old brother’s swim meet.
The lawyer stated that young Poppy was with her brother, mother, and baby sister at a pool event marking the start of fall. During this private gathering, there were three lifeguards present.
“Besides the family and the three lifeguards, no one else was present,” mentioned the family’s lawyer, Natanya Brooks, according to a report by Atlanta’s News First.
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed to People Magazine that the child’s cause of death was drowning. Her passing has been officially classified as an accident.
However, the family is pressing for answers and wondering how the drowning could happen with three lifeguards present.
Brooks, a former top-level swimmer at Georgia Tech, emphasized in an interview with Decaturish that constant supervision is necessary when a pool is in use, especially with children around, as drowning can occur swiftly.
“This happens in a matter of minutes.”
The details surrounding the drowning, including where the lifeguards were when the incident occurred, are reportedly unclear at this time.
“These are questions that we have to figure out answers to, and there will be an investigation to know exactly what happened,” Brooks added.
Whether the family intends to pursue legal action remains uncertain. Brooks commented that it is “too early” to say what steps might follow.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via GoFundMe]
