A four-year-old boy from Texas died after drowning in the water for more than a week. According to KTRK, Francisco Delgado III, 4, died of drowning a week after his family took him swimming at the Texas City Dike near Galveston, Texas. His parents referred to him as “Baby Frankie” since he was still quite young when he died.
Baby Frankie’s parents were alarmed when, after the family swimming trip at the Texas City Dike, he started complaining of stomach aches. However, as his symptoms seemed to be improving, they decided not to take him to see a doctor.
A week after a family trip to the swimming pool, Frankie stopped breathing in his sleep. This was completely unexpected and absolutely frightening for his parents because he was otherwise a healthy young boy. They never imagined that the simple act of swimming could have put their son in such danger. It wasn’t until later they realized that Frankie had actually been drowning during that fateful night.
“Out of nowhere, he just woke up. He said ah,” Frankie’s dad, Francisco Delgado Jr.,said. “He took his last breath, and I didn’t know what to do no more.”
Frankie’s father made the correct decision. He phoned 911 and informed the dispatchers that his son was unable to breathe and required emergency medical assistance immediately.
“I walked in. I could see him lying there,” Frankie’s mother, Tara Delgado, said “They were still working on him. I’m screaming. Let me just touch my baby. Maybe he needs his mama’s touch. When [the doctor] came in, she told us it’s what’s called dry drowning. His lungs were full of fluid. There was nothing else they could do for him.”
According to a report from WXIN, doctors discovered fluid in the lungs and around the heart when they examined the boy. He had been swimming a week prior, yet there was still water in his body due to the accident.
Drowning occurs days or weeks after someone breathes water. Symptoms of dry drowning include labored breathing, coughing, drowsiness, tiredness, and vomiting.
When water enters the lungs, they become irritated. The lungs fill with even more fluid as a result of this.
Purva Grover, medical director of Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatric emergency departments, stated: “You might not witness your child inhale any pool water, but it’s important to watch out for signs soon after an event that could cause dry drowning,” Grover said. “It’s very unusual for the child to have absolutely no symptoms, but they may go to bed and in the middle of the night have trouble breathing. It takes a couple of hours for the fluid to emerge in the lungs.”
Dr. Kay Leaming-Van Zandt, a doctor at Texas Children’s Hospital, told KTRH that children can drown in just a few inches of water; even less than what you might think.
“It only takes a split second,” Leaming-Van Zandt stated. “Drowning is silent. It’s not similar to what you see in the movies where there is a lot of commotion.”
