Family Talks About Near-Drowning

Family members gave News 5 the picture at the beginning of the article and said the girl who almost drowned Saturday, July 18, 2009 was Kylee Waldrop.

“The water that they was in was only a few inches deep, I mean it wasn't very deep at all, but I guess that's all it takes,” says Kylee’s uncle Jeremy Waldrop. The victim's grandparents run Styx River Canoe and Tube Rental. Family members say the girl somehow got into the water at one of their drop-off points.

“[We were] surprised really cause you never know I guess, my older brother, he's pretty upset about it,” says Kylee’s other uncle Jonathan Waldrop. The one thing family members want to emphasize is what happened Saturday was purely an accident.

“[Kylee’s parents] was over there will all three of their kids they've always been great with kids,” says Jeremy Waldrop. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office says the girl was left with a 7-year-old-boy, but family members say Kylee's was with her two sisters and father Jimmy Waldrop merely turned his attention away for a moment.

“They're doing as well as can be expected, they're all pretty shook up about it,” says Jonathan. Kaylee was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola after first responders tried to revive her. A hospital spokesman says Kylee’s listed in critical condition. A Sheriff’s Office spokesman was unavailable Sunday night to give an update on the case.