Family warns of drowning hazard posed by bucket of water


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OGDEN — Emily and Ray Fischer hope that by sharing their story they can prevent other families from going through the same tragedy they're experiencing.

On May 22, their 13-month-old son, Miles, fell into a bucket of water and nearly drowned.

"Know that anything can happen, even if you are being vigilant and being watchful and preventative," Miles's mother, Emily Fischer, said Monday.

Emily Fischer said she was gardening in the family's front yard as her husband, Ray, and the kids grilled out back. She said it only took a matter of minutes for the family to realize Miles was missing.

"My son had gone out the door, and by the time (my husband) ran back to the front to check the hotdogs is when he saw Miles," she said.

The toddler was face-down in a small bucket his siblings had used to fill their water guns. The family said the water was only 5 inches deep.

Miles was rushed to McKay-Dee Hospital, then to Primary Children's Hospital. After a couple of days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the family saw a glimmer of hope.

"He said 'Mama, Dada' and clapped his hands, which was a huge relief that he was OK," Emily Fischer said.

But a few days later, Miles had a seizure.

"You could see his eyes rolling back, and he's completely shaking with a seizure," his mother said.

She said scans revealed possible damage to Miles' brain from being under water for at least four minutes.

Emily and Ray Fischer are hoping other parents can learn from their tragedy and empty any type of object that can hold water. Another lesson they want parents to remember: always know where your little ones are.

"Be aware of them, because one day you just might be in the same situation where you can't hold them every day," Ray Fischer said.

Miles is expected to spend at least one more month at Primary Children's Hospital. Doctors are still not sure about the extent of his brain damage.

The Fischer family has set up a GoFundMe account* to help with medical expenses.

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