3-year-old in ICU after near drowning in Spring, good Samaritan pulled her out pool
3-year-old hospitalized after falling into pool
Only on FOX, a family recounts frightening moments when a 3-year-old girl was rescued after falling into a pool and nearly drowning. The child was rushed to the hospital in stable condition but things have taken a turn. FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke with the family and the person who jumped into action to save the girl.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - A family in Spring was feeling grateful as 3-year-old Leilani Montarosa survived a close encounter with death after falling into a pool. However, the condition of the young girl shifted.
Immediately after the incident, Leilani was reported to be in stable condition; alive and breathing on her own. However, the family told FOX 26 that recent developments revealed that she had sustained brain damage and was admitted to the ICU.
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The chilling incident occurred during a family gathering at the Parkside Place Apartments to celebrate the 54th birthday of Patricia Espinoza, the girl's grandmother. They were having a barbecue by the pool, enjoying a festive day, when, all of a sudden, the atmosphere turned into one of panic and fear.
"I just heard screaming and someone say, ‘call 911’, and I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know the baby [Leilani] had fallen in the water," relayed Vivian, the girl's aunt.
The family said the young girl was submerged underwater for about two minutes.
"It’s horrible. This is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone," Espinoza said.
The family made frantic efforts to save Leilani. However, their attempts were futile until Owees Salazar, a good Samaritan in town for the weekend, jumped in to aid them.
Salazar, who himself is recovering from being intubated three months ago, described the incident.
Owees Salaza, who was intubated 3-months ago
"I ran along the edge of the pool and jumped in exactly where the little girl was. I didn’t know what to do or where to put her until they took her and started rendering first aid," Salazar said.
Expressing deep shock and fear over the incident, Vivian, who is a registered nurse, managed to control her emotions and provide first-hand medical aid to Leilani, stating, "It’s just so scary. You hear screaming and crying, and her mom was just so scared."
The incident served as a stark reminder of the hazards of children around pools. Espinoza, while advising extreme caution, said, "Anything can happen in a matter of seconds. In a split second, a child can lose their life."
While the family was still grappling with the sudden turn of events, Leilani's father was too distraught to provide a comment. As news of Leilani's worsening condition became known, the rest of the distressed family rushed to the hospital.