Mom Emotionally Recalls Baby Nearly Drowning In Toilet
SUN VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — The mother of the baby girl who nearly drowned in a toilet at their home in Sun Valley Monday emotionally recalled trying to save her daughter's life.
The incident happened shortly before 10 a.m. at the residence in the 8200 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
The mother, who was too shaken up to speak on camera, said her eldest daughter, Charlese, and her 1-year-old girl, Charlotte, were inside a locked bathroom when the baby got her head stuck in the toilet.
The mom of two said she kicked the door open with her bare feet as soon as she heard cries for help.
"While I'm trying to break the door lock, Charlese started yelling, 'Charlotte's in trouble.' I knew I didn't have time. I kicked (the door), got in the bathroom, and started giving her CPR right away," she said.
Officer Leroy Alley of the Los Angeles Police Department was the first to arrive on the scene after the mother called 911.
"(The mom) was screaming frantically, 'Take her to the hospital! Take her! Take her!'" said Alley.
Sgt. Roland Fogel, who is also a former firefighter, said, "When the mom came out, the baby was blue and had difficulty breathing. Officer Alley and I worked to clear its airway."
Fogel continued, "When the baby started crying, it was an extraordinary feeling for both of us."
Los Angeles Fire Department crews rushed Charlotte to a nearby middle school where she was airlifted to a hospital.
The baby girl is now in good condition at home.
Her mother said she needs time to heal from the incident.
"You hear stories and say, 'It's never going to happen to me.' But it takes less than a minute and not even two inches of water," she said.
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