CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. (AP) - A 6-year-old boy who rescued a playmate from a debris-filled swimming pool but couldn't get himself out of the water has died.
Donald Houser-Richerme had been hospitalized in critical condition since June 7, when rescue crews found his limp body in a half-empty pool at an apartment complex.
He died Monday, Police Chief Tim Baldermann said.
Donny had been exploring the area with his younger brother and a 5-year-old friend, Karah Moran, when they found the gate to the pool area unlocked and went in.
Karah either jumped or fell into the empty, shallow end of the pool, then slid on debris into the water gathered at the deep end. Though Donald couldn't swim, he jumped in after her and was able to push her to a ladder, family members said. But he couldn't save himself, and authorities said he was under water as long as 20 minutes.
``That family has been through an awful lot this past week, and throughout the whole ordeal they've shown a lot of dignity, class and strength,'' Baldermann said.
Authorities said they would not file charges against the owner of the apartment complex after learning a maintenance man had cut the pool's lock.
http://cnn.aimtoday.cnn.com/news/st...654.htm&sc=1110
Donald Houser-Richerme had been hospitalized in critical condition since June 7, when rescue crews found his limp body in a half-empty pool at an apartment complex.
He died Monday, Police Chief Tim Baldermann said.
Donny had been exploring the area with his younger brother and a 5-year-old friend, Karah Moran, when they found the gate to the pool area unlocked and went in.
Karah either jumped or fell into the empty, shallow end of the pool, then slid on debris into the water gathered at the deep end. Though Donald couldn't swim, he jumped in after her and was able to push her to a ladder, family members said. But he couldn't save himself, and authorities said he was under water as long as 20 minutes.
``That family has been through an awful lot this past week, and throughout the whole ordeal they've shown a lot of dignity, class and strength,'' Baldermann said.
Authorities said they would not file charges against the owner of the apartment complex after learning a maintenance man had cut the pool's lock.
http://cnn.aimtoday.cnn.com/news/st...654.htm&sc=1110
