Photo Courtesy Of Fox 9
The family members of a Philadelphia teen, who drowned in a community pool in June, recently launched an independent investigation of the incident.
According to Fox 9, Kaylee Alston’s family hired Attorney Gabriel Levin to launch the independent inquiry after The Bensalem Police Department closed an initial investigation of the incident. The BPD had done so due to authorities concluding that no criminal intent was involved.
“It’s really horrible, and I think it sends a message to the community that lifeguards are there for safety and people should feel safe when they are on duty and not drown in a pool with multiple guards,” Levin said.
Kaylee reportedly drowned while swimming in a pool at Franklin Commons Apartments in Bensalem on June 26. Family members said she went missing an hour before the pool closed at 8 p.m., which prompted them to beg lifeguards to search the water.
Witnesses said the lifeguards initially hesitated to jump in the pool and search for the 17-year-old because the water was murky, and the bottom of it wasn’t visible. Eventually, a guard dived in and pulled Kaylee from the cloudy water.
“He didn’t know what to do. We were screaming, saying, ‘Give her CPR, give her CPR’ he was stuck; he didn’t know what to do. He just said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Alfonso Wright, Kaylee’s cousin, shared.
Franklin Commons Apartments’ management said the pool was closed for five days and the lifeguards were fired and replaced by a new team.
One of Kaylee’s relatives, Antoinette Wright, created a GoFundMe page to assist them with funeral costs as well as anything else the Philadelphia teen’s baby siblings may need to cope.
“I’m starting this fundraiser to try and help my family out with the funeral expenses and to get Kaylee’s baby siblings any help they may need to cope with this loss,” Antoinette wrote on June 28. “Any little bit helps and will be appreciated to help us honor our angel, Kaylee.”
She has raised $3,095 of her $20,000 goal thus far.