A Wallkill family devastated by the drowning of an eight-year-old boy is now also mourning the loss of his dad, who died after trying to save his young son in a backyard pool.
Yaw Addae died in the days after he tried to save his son, Lucas, from drowning at their home on Fair Oaks Road on July 3. Both victims had been taken to Garnet Health Medical Center, where Lucas was pronounced dead on arrival and Addae was placed in critical condition.
Christiana Duodu, Addae's wife and Lucas' mom, said in a statement that her husband died due to his efforts to save their son. According to Town of Wallkill police, they had responded to Addae's home around 8 p.m. on July 3.
Dad jumped into the water fully clothed to save drowning son
Duodu said her family, which had moved there from New York City just four months earlier, had been having a wonderful day that Sunday. She went in to feed her youngest child when she suddenly heard some commotion.
Duodu saw her husband in the water, fully clothed. She described the scenes at the time as nothing but chaos happening. Other family members told her that Lucas had sunk to the bottom of the pool, and her husband was trying to do his best to save him.
The distraught mom also jumped in, and they all tried to save her drowning son. Her husband went down to rescue their kid but, unfortunately, never returned in his attempt. Duodu told the Times-Herald Record that her niece called 911 to report the incident; the rest was history.
Relatives were able to pull young Lucas out of the pool, and first responders who arrived on the scene were able to get Addae out. Services will be held this coming August when Addae's parents, both out of the country, can attend. Funeral arrangements are being made through Ortiz Funeral Home in the Bronx.
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Important tips for pool and swimming safety
With a particularly hot stretch of weather affecting the Hudson Valley at the moment, here are some tips for swimming and pool safety from the Office of Children and Family Services. First and foremost, parents should never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch kids closely around all bodies of water.
A designated water watcher should supervise the children in the pool or spa. This person should not be texting, using a smartphone, reading, or otherwise distracted. Adults can take turns in being water watchers.
It is also important to keep children away from pipes, pool drains, and other openings to avoid entrapments. The family should have a telephone close by when they are using a pool or spa in case of an emergency, as well as lifesaving equipment such as floats and life rings.
