A somber mood has enveloped the community in Decatur following the tragic death of a young child at the Oakhurst Recreation Center’s pool last Friday. The child, identified by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner as 20-month-old Poppy Pepper from Dacula, was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital, FOX5 Atlanta reported. Emergency crews had responded to the scene around 3:55 p.m., where a staff member was already performing CPR on the child.
In light to the ongoing investigation, the Oakhurst Recreation Center and Pool has been closed. According to an official city statement highlighted by FOX5 Atlanta, “Our thoughts are with the family, loved ones, and all those impacted during this difficult time.” The pool’s front doors bore a sign informing the community of the closure, which continued throughout the weekend following the incident.
Kay Mallett, a nurse who frequents the Oakhurst pool, expressed her grief over the incident to WSB-TV, “It’s so sad because I’m a nurse, so kid drownings, those are the worst, worst kind to have.” She noted that the pool is usually well-attended in the afternoon hours with two or three lifeguards on duty, particularly during the time when children are present…