3-year-old girl found unconscious in Independence Lake in Webster Township
A 3-year-old girl is in critical condition after becoming submerged in water for several minutes this evening in Independence Lake in Webster Township, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department.
It's unclear what caused the girl to go underwater at about 7:05 p.m. or how long she was under, but officials say it was likely only about five minutes.
The girl was at the lake with her family members who were visiting from France to see relatives in Ypsilanti Township, sheriff's spokesman Derrick Jackson said. The girl and other children had been in and out of the lake all day, supervised by adults, Jackson said.
But at about 7:05 p.m., another person at the lake - busy with Fourth of July activity - discovered the girl submerged in water, Jackson said. She was not in a deep part of the lake.
The girl was unconscious, and a lifeguard immediately began CPR, Jackson said. She was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in critical condition.
Jackson said it's not clear what happened in the minutes before the girl was found unconscious. "We know she was in and out all day and she was fine and then a couple minutes later was drowning," Jackson said.
The name of the girl has not been released.
Independence Lake is located at 3200 Jennings Rd. in Webster Township.
Comments
Rianne
Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.
I was also at the lake that day and am so sad for this family. I am happy with all the people that were there to help. There were families all over praying with these children and watching them as the parents and family members were with the little girl. We cleaned up the site where they were eating and then my husband drove the mother and aunt to the hospital. I can not get this little girl and her family off my Mind. Please give us an update as soon as anyone gets one.
Kelley Smith
Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 8:15 p.m.
Does anyone know how this little girl is doing yet?? My heart goes out to her and her family. Carrie and Paul you guys are both also in my prayers. Thank god you were both there to find her and help. I have 3 small children and I couldn't even imagine going thru something like this with one of them. Carrie you mentioned going and seeing her. Is she going to be okay?? :( Kelley
miradee4
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 10:19 p.m.
This is making me tear up reading the comments from Carrie and Paul, and the observer. I know it must have been so instinctual but what a gift you are Carrie! I planned on taking my kids here tomorrow and I'm glad I got CPR and First Aid certified last month.
PaulS
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 8:28 p.m.
Carrie, I'm glad I can put a name to a face. I was the doctor next to you doing the rescue breathing. We all had a singular focus and after the EMS left we failed to share our names (along with those of the two lifeguards). One lifeguard was clearly trained in ACLS and did an excellent job of taking the lead in running the resuscitation until the paramedics arrived. I do want to strongly suggest that anyone reading these comments please take a course in BLS. Contact your local Red Cross for information. It will be time well spent and something you will never regret. Carrie, thanks for your quick thinking in bringing her to shore. I too pray that this young girl can make a full recovery. Paul.
Carrie Govang
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 6:42 p.m.
I am the women that found the girl floating in the water. I was playing with my girls in the water when i saw the little girl floating in the water. At first i thought she was just looking under the water. I went to her and realized she was unconscious, i grabbed her and ran for the shore yelling for help. It was very crowded and noisy so they did not hear me until i was at the shore. The lifeguard grabbed her and pulled her to the grass. I started rescue breathing right away. She had no pulse at first so i started compressions. At that point someone took over the breathing and i continued compressions. Her pulse returned. The lifeguards coached us throughout. They brought over the AED unit and we hooked her up (thank god they had one). At some point a lifeguard took over the CPR. I stayed with them until EMS arrived. Everyone did exactly what they were suppose to. It was very scary and heartwrenching. I kept saying "come on sweetie come on you can do it". I have two daughters so i was not going to give up on her. I think she may have been eating in the water because there was food in her mouth. The girl and her family are visting from France so there was a language barrier but when a mother is screaming for her child to wake up language does not matter,it is a sound i will never forget. I went to the hospital last night to see the family. For myself i need to see her conscious and breathing again. Holding a lifeless child in my arms is something i will never forget. I'm glad i was there and that i knew what to do to help. I'm eternally grateful to everyone that helped bring her back. The lifeguards and staff at independence lake were amazing. I'm praying for the little girl and her family.
Bart
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 2:52 p.m.
I was there, I was on the shore looking out on the water with my girlfriend when right in front of me I see a woman carrying a child by an arm and a leg and she is completely limp (Image that is stuck in my mind) - Anyway she was pretty much to the shore with the girl yelling help before the life guards finally reacted - Had it not been for the people around that knew CPR(not the lifeguard) but others, the child would probably not still be alive. I could not believe that with all the commotion and everything, they did not just clear the water - instead the other life guard stayed on her stand and continued to watch the water like nothing was going on. I was especially sad when I realized how far away the family of this child was from their kid and it was a very large family. Well I have no idea who the woman is that found the child and carried her out or the many people in the area before the medics that worked so hard on revive her and keep her alive. If you are one of them or know one of them, I just want to let them know what you/or they did was and amazing thing and I hope all the energy that was put into that little girl has a positive ending - I hope to hear a happy ending to all of this - PEACE
Maureen
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 2:18 p.m.
I was with the woman who performed CPR on the little girl until the rescue team arrived. Thank God for her. We have all been praying that the little girl makes a full recovery. Very sad.
jbw
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 1:47 p.m.
How about KUDOS to the woman who pulled the child from the water and immediately notified lifeguard. They worked together on the girl until ems got there. She is a mother of two daughters herself. Thank God she was there.
WSC
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.
She's in my thoughts, as is her family. Kudos to the lifeguard and other emergency personnel who assisted with her rescue.
Eric Miller
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.
We saw this happening from the other side of the lake. I really hope the little girl will be OK. My understanding is very small children have great survival reactions (blood gets redirected to the brain) and their brains have great plasticity, so I am hopeful for her recovery.
Top Cat
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.
Is there any update to the child's condition?
earthchick
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.
This sentence in the story bothers me: It's unclear what caused the girl to go underwater at about 7:05 p.m. or how long she was under, but officials say it was likely only about five minutes. The word "only" seems inappropriate in this context. It only takes a few minutes for a child to drown, or to end up with irreversible brain damage. Five minutes seems like a very long time to me for a child to be under water. My prayers go out for the child and her family.
Maureen
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 12:50 a.m.
I was there, and it was horrific. I have been praying for that little girl and her family all evening. The earlier comment was ignorant. A little girl struggles for life and comments are made about a nanny? Shameful.
Jesse
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 12:01 a.m.
Pray for her & her family. If you weren't there you should'nt make ignorant comments.
Shannlil2
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 11:29 p.m.
Where were the parents?????? No supervision while a 3 year old is swimming in 2 ft water?? Come on now, YPSI'S FINEST SHINING BRIGHT!!!
Joe
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 11:07 p.m.
Did not bring the Nanny?
Peregrine
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 10:55 p.m.
This is sad, and I hope she recovers fully. Drowning does not look like you expect it to look and as portrayed in media. 10% of kids who drown do so in full view of an adult who does not recognize that the child is in peril. Learn to recognize the signs of drowning starting with these two resources. Article: Drowning Doesnt Look Like Drowning Wikipedia on the signs and symptoms of drowning