Girl Survives Pool Disembowelment

This is just absolutely tragic, my thoughts and prayers are with the little girl and family. I hope she recovers and is able to live a somewhat normal life.

they ought to drain the pool and put the fancy country club out of business. They should always be checking anything where pools are involved.Of course I'm sure it being a country club it's all about the money

This poor girl will never have a normal life again. I can't imagine the pain she will face having to endure a lifetime of obstacles because of such carelessness. The country club should have to pay a substantial amount of money to her.

God's divine mercy was with this little girl and gave her the ability to pull herself from the pool, after this tragic and AVOIDABLE accident. I wish with all the advances in medicine, that small instestines could somehow be constructed and implanted, much the same as other organs are. Perhaps in her lifetime, some brilliant mind will create such a treatment. The family should, and will, I assume, since they have a lawyer, sue this country club, and will recover monetary damages for pain and suffering and future damages for medical care and treatment for this child's life time. However, that will not come close to compensate this child for never being able to enjoy not even an ice cream cone again.

i'm not sure i'd want to live like that

This is the kind of negligence that someone needs to be accountable for. There are tons of questions as to "how" something this horrible could happen.
1. How much suction (force) does this kiddie pool require to circulate old water out and new water in?
2. Is there a "safety" limit especially for kiddie pools?
3. Why was there "not" a suction prevention guard over the existing drain lid?
4. Are the pumps pressures monitored?
5. How Often?
6. Is there a fully trained and certified Pool technician employed on the grounds?

So many ways this could have veen avoided. I wonder if the country clug has any idea not just how permanent the damage is, but the other complications Abigail will endure for the rest of her life. Does it even cross their minds she will feel hungry in her belly the rest of her life non-stop?

It's one thing when an accident is caused by being clumsy or misbehaving or tempting danger by doing something wrong. It's totally a different story when a machine attacks you. What if Abigail decided to go underwater and swim for the first time and the suction at the drain got a hold of her face?

This is cut and dry, Sue their ***** OFF! It's not even close to an even trade if the clug is ordered to pay millions of dollars. It's a one time payment and they wash their hands, Abigail must endure for the rest of her life.

Lindsay wrote:

i'm not sure i'd want to live like that

I just hope you will never have to make that decision? This litlle girl is beautiful and I hope her the best. No amount of money will bring back what she has lost. This was a horrble accident and I am sure the country club had no idea that this could happen or they would have had safguards in place, but they do need to pay for their mistake.

Condolences to the family and the little angel that got through this horrific experience! What was the level of water that she was in... who turned on the switch without checking to see if anyone is still swimming, needs to have charges applied fro ruining her life.. at age 6.

Karen wrote:

HAVING NO IDEA THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN IS CALLED NEGLIGENCE. WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR BUSINESS TO THE PUBLIC, AND CHARGE PEOPLE TO USE YOUR FACILITIES, YOU HAVE A LEGAL DUTY TO MAKE YOUR FACILITY REASONABLY SAFE FOR THOSE WHOM YOU INVITE ONTO YOUR PREMISES. THE ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS REASONABLY SAFE IS TO LEARN THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD OF SAFETY FOR EACH ATTRACTION YOU OFFER. THE STANDARD FOR A SWIMMING POOL IS DETERMINED BY EXPERTS IN POOL MAINTENANCE, WHICH EVERY BUSINESS HAS A DUTY TO EMPLOY. THAT STANDARD WOULD MOST CERTAINLY INCLUDE A SAFE LEVEL OF SUCTION FOR THE RETURN DRAIN AND A DRAIN COVER, THAT WOULD PREVENT A CHILD FROM SITTING DIRECTLY ON TOP OF IT, THE ABSENCE OF WHICH CLEARLY PRESENTS A FORESEEABLE DANGER. THE CLUB MAY AS WELL CLOSE, BECAUSE THEY WILL PAY THE MAXIMUM COVERAGE THEY HAVE IN INSURANCE, AND THEN SOME......... NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS OF BUSINESS AND DAMAGE TO REPUTATION. BUT THEN, THERE IS PROBABLY A LINE OF FOOLS, JUST WAITING TO GET INTO THAT SAME POOL, ASSUMING IT IS NOW SAFE AND FORGETTING ABOUT THE TRAGEDY IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME MINDLESS FUN.
<quoted text>

It is just like any other ACCIDENT. No one means to kill or hurt someone but ACCIDENTS do happen. This was an ACCIDENT, but the responsible party needs to pay for their ACCIDENT. Its not like they did it on purpose.

To say this was an accident is too easy. This is full on neglectful maintenence. I bet if this family hadn't paid their monthly dues to the club someone would have noticed that and corrected it. Why shouldn't the members who pay to use this club be able to expect basic pool maintenence????? This is inexcusable.

No one is asking what the girl was doing at the time. Maybe she is at fault for playing around or with the suction hole. It was just an accident either way. Why does everyone jump on the SUE, SUE, SUE bandwagon? Oh, I forgot that is the american way.

God Bless this little girl.

comment wrote:

<quoted text>
It is just like any other ACCIDENT. No one means to kill or hurt someone but ACCIDENTS do happen. This was an ACCIDENT, but the responsible party needs to pay for their ACCIDENT. Its not like they did it on purpose.

I guess you could say it was an accident; but, I feel you are being too nonchalant. Check it -- if it were you or your child would you feel the same way? Faugeddabotit. Peace.

I am so sorry to hear about Abigail. This is such a tragic occurence. Our Family will keep her and her family in our prayers and God will do as he sees fit for this situation. Hopefully Abby will be able to have a normal life and always tell her that she is loved and prayed for. God Bless

Parents, please, PLEASE don't take it for granted that any pool is maintained as it should be. Learn to check out such things as a drain cover, etc. or make certain your children KNOW not to do such things. They are not aware of the strength of these things and long hair being sucked into the same drain can drown an unsuspecting child. Horrendous accident - let it serve as a warning!!!!!

Donna Lee wrote:

<quoted text>
I guess you could say it was an accident; but, I feel you are being too nonchalant. Check it -- if it were you or your child would you feel the same way? Faugeddabotit. Peace.

Yes I would feel the same way. I would know they do not do it on purpose, BUT I would still want them to pay for my childs care for their ACCIDENT.

I want to know where was the lifeguard all this time? Surely during summer they would have one staffed at the country club, especially in the kiddie pool area. I'll be keeping Abigail in my prayers.

Hey Get a Life....well GET ONE! The pool drains are supposed to have covers over them so this doesn't happen...do you have ANY idea what the cost of medical care is for this child who did NOTHING wrong for this type of injury...10-20 THOUSAND PER MONTH - for the rest of her life!!! This is NOT counting the extensive medical expenses that are adding up while she's in surgery...

She was in a pool in a safe place...having fun...this pool forever changed the life of a little girl...6 years old...SIX!!! Imagine NEVER eating anything again...being fed through a feeding tube...do you get that? Can you comprehend that?

Heck you probably blame that sweet little girl who lost her feet on a ride too...get a heart and have some compassion!!!! Oh better yet - get a life!