Uncle Of Toddler Who Drowned In Pool: "It Only Takes A Second..."
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POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) - Henrique Dias Amorim, called Rico by his family, had a love for soccer and a skill set that defied his three-and-a-half years of life.
"He does things that I can't do what he did with the ball. That's how good he was," recalled his uncle Luis Amorim.
Amorim is now forced to speak about his nephew in the past tense. And he can't believe it.
"I woke up this morning thinking it was a dream, it hurts, and it's a long road to recovery," he told CBS4's Natalia Zea.
Amorim was cleaning up after a small family party in the backyard of a Pompano Beach home on the Intracoastal Waterway. He thought Rico was inside with his parents—then he made the discovery.
"I glanced at the pool and I saw him, and it took me a second. I jumped in, I took him out of the pool and started doing CPR and screaming call 9-1-1....It's something that I'm going to have to carry with me for the rest of my life, every time I close my eyes I see him."
In Rico's death though, may come new life. His family has agreed to donate his organs. And Amorim hopes to save lives in another way as well. He hopes seeing his family's loss of an incredible little boy, will prevent future tragedies.
"Keep an eye on your children at all times, at all times. It only takes a second for the rest of your life...." Amorim couldn't finish the sentence as he choked up thinking of Rico.
And though his family is shaken with grief, they say in a way, Rico let them know early on he may not always have been on this earth.
"He doesn't like too many hugs, he was always independent. In other words, saying, don't get too attached to me. I don't belong to you, I belong to God."
Rico's family said the boy never learned how to swim--in fact, they said he was afraid of the water. They believe swimming lessons could have saved his life.
The Broward Sheriff's Office is still investigating Rico's death but says it appears this was purely a tragic accident.
