A young boy from San Antonio has died after a tragic accident in a neighbor's pool in Atascosa County, according to a report by FOX San Antonio. Jeremiah David Turner, only 5 years old and diagnosed with Autism, went missing from his grandmother's backyard on March 14 while his family was preoccupied.
After a frantic search by relatives, Jeremiah was discovered unconscious at the bottom of a neighbor's pool, an accident waiting to happen with the gate inadvertently left agape, according to the family's account. Jeremiah's mother, Christie Lyons, lamented the lack of supervision around the pool, saying, "The main thing was pool owners they shouldn't not follow the laws." Rescued and rushed to a San Antonio hospital, the boy fought for his life for four days before succumbing to his injuries.
The incident has sparked a conversation around the importance of water safety, particularly for children with Autism, KENS 5 reports. Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagle's Flight Advocacy & Outreach, who educates families about water safety noted, "The leading cause of death for children with autism is drowning, and for some reason the water just calls to them." Allen stressed the unique attraction that children with Autism have towards water, and the fatal risks that accompany that allure.
The importance of this issue is underscored by the statistics from the National Autism Association, with drowning accounting for 91% of total U.S. deaths in children 14 and younger with an Autism Spectrum Disorder following wandering/elopement between 2009 and 2011. In the face of such staggering numbers, Allen's organization holds water safety lessons for children with Autism, an initiative motivated by her own experiences with her son, who is also on the spectrum. Despite the evident risks and existing preventative measures, the tragedy that befell Jeremiah Turner bears witness to the need for increased awareness and education among families and communities alike.
In August, the family is expecting a third child, a girl who will be named Miah in tribute to her late brother. Services for Jeremiah will take place March 29-30 at Mission Park South in San Antonio. To assist with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe page has been established, and local philanthropist Gordon Hartman has made a $5,000 donation. Allen urges families, especially those with autistic children, "What we all can take away from this is to educate yourself about children with autism and water safety, and make sure that your child is going to be educated in this as well," She adds, "It's a matter of life and death."
