Scientology Critical Information Directory

This site is best viewed using a highly standards-compliant browser

Boy, 2, in critical condition

Title: Boy, 2, in critical condition
Date: Saturday, 7 June 1986
Publisher: Clearwater Sun (Florida)
Author: Susan Snyder
Main source: link (117 KiB)

Disclaimer: This archive is presented strictly in the public interest for research purposes. All the copyrights of materials reproduced here are the properties of their respective owners.

CLEARWATER — One of two children who nearly drowned in unrelated accidents Thursday remained hospitalized Friday in critical condition.

Beau Jacob Karnovsky, 2, went nearly 15 minutes without breathing after falling into a swimming pool Thursday. He remained in critical condition Friday at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, officials said.

The toddler fell into eight feet of water around 5 p.m. in an unattended pool behind the Sand Castle Motel, 200 N. Osceola Ave., while being watched by a 16-year-old baby sitter, a police report states.

The child, who has been staying with his parents at the motel owned by the Church of Scientology, was under water for about 10 minutes without oxygen, according to the police report.

The toddler didn't breathe for another three to four minutes after being pulled from the pool by a bystander, who attempted to expel water from the child's lungs by placing him over one knee, the report state.

The child's heart began beating about 15 minutes after fire rescuers delivered him to the Morton F. Plant Hospital emergency room, the report states. He was sustained by life support and taken to All Children's Hospital.

In an unrelated incident, a 5-year-old Clearwater boy nearly drowned at 8:55 p.m. Thursday when he fell into the Intracoastal Waterway off the Seminole Docks seawall at the end of Seminole Street, police said.

Jeremy Williams was walking around the area of the docks with his mother, Sara, several siblings and Carl Jefferson, a family friend, when he fell into the water, police said.

Jeremy was wearing heavy boots and went under the surface three or four times before Jefferson plucked him out, police said.

The child wasn't breathing when he emerged from the water, police said, but began sputtering up water and breathing on his own after an unidentified bystander pressed on his stomach to release the water, police said. The child went home with his parents, but stopped breathing again when he laid down, police said.

Jeremy was breathing again just before fire rescuers arrived at the 611 Spruce Street home, police said, but was taken to Morton Plant Hospital where he was treated and released.