Woman Drowns in Apartment Swimming Pool
Our swimming pool accident attorney was saddened to read the Daytona Beach News-Journal report that 38 year old Kandice McCarthy drowned in the Canalview Apartments complex pool in Port Orange, Florida. McCarthy had been attempting to teach a seven year old boy how to swim when she drowned. According to the police report McCarthy would ask the boy if he was ready, tell him to hang on, and then she would take him under water. They did this several times in a row, but on one dive they failed to surface.
The young boy’s father, 33 year old William Groom, had been present at the pool and claimed that when they didn’t resurface he immediately jumped in and saved his son. He then jumped back in and pulled McCarthy out. The young boy and McCarthy were quickly transported to the hospital where McCarthy was pronounced dead. The young boy was listed in stable condition, and is expected to make a full recovery.
Sadly, the video surveillance cameras show a different story. According to the tapes Groom brought his son to the pool and began drinking while the boy played with other children. McCarthy showed up moments later and began drinking with Groom. McCarthy later got up to go join the boy in the pool, but looked unsteady. She began swimming with the boy, and on the tapes she looked to be struggling to stay afloat before they disappeared below the surface. Groom failed to notice that they hadn’t resurfaced for two minutes, and when he did notice he sat down at the edge of the pool for one more minute watching their motionless bodies. He finally jumped in and pulled the boy out and administered CPR. Five minutes later he pulled out McCarthy and administered CPR. According to the tape the boy was under water three minutes and 13 seconds, and McCarthy was under the water for eight minutes and 34 seconds. 
Our swimming pool drowning lawyer was pleased to learn that the Port Orange police are taking the drowning seriously by conducting a full investigation. A few days after the drowning Groom was arrested, and has been charged with child neglect in relation to this incident. An autopsy has been completed and the results of a toxicology report are pending.
Our apartment swimming pool drowning lawyer knows that drinking and swimming pools never mix. Pools are dangerous enough without adding intoxicated swimmers. It is important for those in control of the pool to take reasonable safety precautions to avoid this dangerous combination.
As the months get hotter and hotter apartment residents will be out using the pools at their complexes every day. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by a drowning accident at an apartment complex our pool drowning attorney Jesse E. Guerra Jr. can help determine your legal rights and make sure these awful accidents are avoided.
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