Wading Pool Drain Sucks Out Girl's Intestine

[DrummerDeanna]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...79/detail.html

MINNEAPOLIS -- A 6-year-old Edina, Minn., girl is hospitalized after a freak accident at a swimming pool.

Abigail Taylor was severely injured Friday when she sat over an open drain hole in a wading pool at the Minneapolis Golf Club. According to a posting by her family on the Caring Bridge Web site, the drain's powerful suction tore out part of her intestinal tract.

The family's account said it's a "medical miracle" that she's still alive. The online account has since been taken down.


Her father, Scott Taylor, told WCCO-TV that the suction caused a 2-inch tear in Abigail's rectum and pulled out much of her small intestine. Doctors had to remove the part of her intestines that remained, the family's lawyer, Bob Bennett, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

"This could literally be happening if you're holding your child's hand," said Bennett. "These filtration systems are meant to be covered and secure. You don't think the filtration system will literally tear your organs from your body, and it's not a risk your child would understand."

Taylor is in serious condition at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. A lawyer for the family said she was conscious and able to speak but that she faces a series of surgeries and could be in the hospital for some time.

Abigail was in serious condition Wednesday at Children's Hospital. Her condition wasn't available Thursday.

According to The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, when the suction, which equals at least 300 pounds per square inch, sucks hair or body parts, it can trap swimmers underwater. The paper reported that this can cause people to drown even if people are trying to pull them away from the drain. Also, an open drain can suction organs out of the body, the paper reported.

Bennett said that the swimming pool's drain hole was improperly uncovered.

However, the golf club's general manager told the St. Paul Pioneer Press he didn't think anything was wrong with the pool. He referred questions to the attorney for the club's insurance company, who declined to comment.

[JazmenFlowers]

oh D, this is just not good. not good at all.

I am nauseous. poor child. she'll never live that down.

[DrummerDeanna]

Seriously. It's horrid...I have a good friend who's a swimmer but afraid of pool drains - guess now I don't think her fear is so irrational!! Luckily the hospital she's at is wonderful with intestinal stuff for kids- a friend of mine's son was born with an intestinal ailment and they did awesome work - so hopefully this girl will pull through and be able function normally

[darklinensuit]

I won't even read this, but I used to be a lifeguard & these kinds of incidents are more common than you might think! (Not that I ever witnessed one in person)

- Jake

[DavidMn]

This happened about 2 miles from where I live!

[ELIUD]

It's so weird, it sounds like an urban legend.

[DrummerDeanna]

^^

It does, right? Like who thinks that would ever actually happen - but sadly it's not an urban legend

[estranged4life]

This reminds me of the people who drowned in Dallas on the day of the Fleetwood Mac show in June 2004 - Someone slipped and fell into a municipal fountain's pool and were sucked under til they drowned, others went in to rescue the original victim and were also sucked under til they drowned.

[Musicman408]

That's got to be one of the saddest and most bizzare things that could ever happen to a child. That and being born with a diaphragmatic hernia...... That would be me.

[KristinG]

How awful!!

This happened a few years back in Florida, I believe. Ever since then I always check the drains in hotel swimming pools...

Poor kid!

[BlackWidow]

I have now officially heard everything.