Mother, toddler and child swept into water in Edmonson County
BROWNSVILLE, Ky. – A toddler was in critical condition early Tuesday morning after being rescued from flood water in Edmonson County Monday night.
Wingfield Fire Department, Chalybeate Fire Department and the Edmonson County Rescue Squad were called to a high water rescue on Oak Hill Road Monday night.
The driver attempted to cross a low water bridge and the car became disabled in high water, according to a press release from Edmonson County Sheriff Shane Doyle.
The driver, Alexandra Richardson and her 7-year-old and baby were able to get out of the vehicle, according to the press release.
As Richardson tried to swim away from the submerged vehicle with both of her sons she lost the 20-month-old in the water, according to the release.
Rescuers found the toddler nearby.
The toddler was unresponsive and taken to The Medical Center at Bowling Green in critical condition as of 12:47 a.m. on Monday.
A medical team was able to get the toddlers heart pumping again once his temperature rose to a stable level and was later flown to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, according to the release.
“My concern is brain damage to the baby because it was without oxygen for a while,” said Terry Massey, Edmonson County Emergency Management Director.
Rescue personnel waded in the chest deep, ice cold floodwaters and dove into the submerged car to search for the missing child, according to a witness who asked to remain anonymous.
The Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
Now, officials are cautioning the public to pay attention to closed road buffers and to turn around, don’t drown.
“The road department don’t put them up for giggles, they put them up… to save somebody’s life,” said Massey.
