[StBernard] Toddler drowns in Violet after crawling through mesh swimming pool fence

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Wed Jun 24 16:10:02 EDT 2009


Toddler drowns in Violet after crawling through mesh swimming pool fence
by The Times-Picayune
Wednesday June 24, 2009, 12:30 PM
A St. Bernard Parish toddler drowned Wednesday in a swimming pool at the
home of a relative, authorities said.

The boy, who would have turned two years old in the coming days, was
prounced dead at Tulane University Medical Center around noon, shortly after
he was found unresponsive in a pool at 6008 Ridgewood Drive in the Oakridge
Subdivision in Violet, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve
Cannizaro said.

Relatives at the scene identified him as Kendrell "Ray'' Battle. He would
have been two on July 5.

Cannizaro said the boy and another child went into the backyard of the home
where a mesh-like fence surrounded the swimming pool. The boy apparently
found an opening in the mesh and gained access to the pool where he was
found unresponsive at 11:20 a.m., Cannizaro said.

A relative of the family, Portia Thomas, said the drowning occured at the
home of Kendrell's aunt. She said Kendrell and his parents live nearby, and
that the aunt's house, with the pool, is a popular gathering spot for the
extended family.




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