Lawrence, NY – 3-Year-Old, Nanny Drown in Pool

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    Lawrence, NY – A 3-year-old Lawrence girl drowned in her backyard pool Wednesday, and her nanny, who was also found floating at the deep end, died last night at an area hospital after both were pulled from the water by a house painter.

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    Nassau police identified the toddler as Naama Markovits. The nanny was identified as Lorena Canales-Mejia, 32, of Inwood.

    Police said the tot was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway.

    Canales-Mejia had been on a ventilator in the hospital’s intensive care unit, said Det. Lt. Kevin Smith of the Nassau County police.

    Smith said the two victims were pulled from the deep end of the pool by a painter after the girl’s 5-year-old brother ran to the front of the Beechwood Drive home at about 2 p.m. to tell the painter his sister and nanny were floating in the in-ground pool and possibly drowning.

    It was not clear how long they were in the pool, but Smith said investigators are looking into whether the nanny had slipped while carrying the child near the deep end of the pool, where the water is 10 feet deep.

    “It’s possible the house sitter had the 3-year-old in her arms and lost her footing by the deep end, but we’re still investigating,” Smith said at the scene.

    The painter rushed to the pool and pulled the victims out of the water and tried to dial 911 but may have been hampered because his cell phone had gotten wet, Smith said.

    He ran into the home and dialed police using a landline. Rescue workers arrived and rushed the woman and girl to the hospital.

    The children’s mother, who was running errands with an 8-year-old child, arrived shortly after the victims were taken to the hospital.

    Ines Mejia, who said she was the aunt of the nanny, spoke yesterday before her niece died. She said her niece was a mother of three children herself and “a nice girl.” She added: “I’m in shock.”

    Lawrence Village Administrator David Smollett, who called the case “a tragedy,” said the pool would be inspected by the building department.

    Dr. Freddy Marton, a neighbor and pediatric neurologist who said he has seen many drowning cases, called it a “tragedy beyond description,” adding, “I can’t imagine that anyone would be anything less than speechless.”


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    95 Comments
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    BDE
    BDE
    13 years ago

    All the Chachumim are going to comment on why it happened. Lets not do that we know we need to fix ourselves up in many areas. I am getting of the internet now and going to learn a little. We need more Torah in the world.

    Chacham #1
    Chacham #1
    13 years ago

    Children must be supervised by a lifeguard at all times

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    swimming pools are very dangerous for children. far more dangerous than guns. be very careful if you have one in your backyard or near your house. watch your kids carefully around them.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    boruch dayen emes. May Hashem comfort and give koach to the family.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    I personally do not have a pool but read the story; the child had a one on one help that was seemingly not negligent, she fell.

    bukharian
    bukharian
    13 years ago

    they say that pools causes more death comparing people that own guns.

    scary
    scary
    13 years ago

    All must learn to swim under close supervision by trained lifeguards! Everyone must do their share to watch over little ones and stop leaving them to untrained individuals by pools. This can also happen while people are socializing while a little child can slip in the pool with the thought that the other kids will watch over them. Fight for responsibility -the dress/suit you need to buy is not as important as your children’s lives.May we know of no more accidents.

    brooklyn mom
    brooklyn mom
    13 years ago

    GEVALT YIDDEN WAKE UP !!!!!
    Stop talking in shul !!!!! those who talk are killing our children !!!!! how many more do we have to lose before the talkers wake up !!!!!! All of us out there–Chassidish. Litvish, Kipa Seruga. Ashkenazim, Sephardim, frum from birth, baalei teshuva, gerim . the three weeks haven’t even started !!! PLEASE STOP TALKING IN SHUL!!! not to each other, not on cell phones. I am sick of seeing people in talleisim and tefilin standing outside their respective shuls in Boro Park and Flatbush talking to each other and on cell phones –Ribbono Shel Olam–this is supposed to be your time to daven and beseech Hashem–with cell phones ?????

    ALL OF YOU ARE ENDANGERING OUR CHILDREN–YOURS AND MINE !!!!! STOP IT !!!!!! We lost enough this year–between the little boy who got caught under the bus in Boro Park, the 11 year old who got hit in Boro Park, the 8 year old who still cannot speak or move part of his body and is still in pain, When are you going to wake up !!! GEVALT !!!!! I am a mother and cannot imagine the pain and anguish this family is going through but believe me I feel plenty pain when someone else’s child dies even if I didn’t know them PLEASE!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    the levaya for naama markovits zsl. is 1:00 P.M. at Shor Yoshuv….1 Cedarlawn Ave. Lawrence, N.Y.

    Q
    Q
    13 years ago

    Why not blame it on sinas chinam and those who spread it by accusing two frum neighborhoods in particular of engaging in a behavior which you then go on to blame for the death of yiddisher kinder.

    You may be sick of seeing men in tallassim talking on their cell phones. For all you know they are osaik betzorchai tzibur and every minute counts.

    And maybe Gd is sick of hearing us blame each other for tragedies instead of each of us looking inward.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    May H’ comfort this beautiful family. May they never again see any loss. May they grow from bracha and not from tzaara.

    This pain is too much to bear…

    Rabbi Rosen
    Rabbi Rosen
    13 years ago

    Hashem should give the family much strength to overcome their loss. We must look at ourselves closely and refine ourselves to make this world a better place.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    #19 : the tosfos yomtov’s comments are very scary. I’ve always wondered- if what the tosfos yomtov says is true, am I better off davening b’yechidus rather than going to shul where I know I am weak and do talk during davening? I know I should and need to work on it, but am I better off not taking the risk and just staying home?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Misaskim, who has been stationed at the hospital since just after the incident has confirmed that the maid has just passed away

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Rabbi Rosen is speaking truth. We must all follow his words.

    Richard Nixon
    Richard Nixon
    13 years ago

    Chazal may have assigned certain machlas to certain avairos but that does not mean that every death from that machlah was caused by that avairah.

    We can never be certain of what causes any tragedy in this world. One can and should be introspective and when faced with a crises try to identify which of his actions could be to blame and change his/her ways but there is no way we can ever be certain.

    anonymous
    anonymous
    13 years ago

    It has nothing to do with a lifegaurd. Even a lifegaurd could get a cramp or slip. there has to always be 2 people at all times that are capable of helping or getting help at least if no lifegaurd is around. BDE

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Nanny just died at the hospital. Terrible double tragedy

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    the parents are yehuda and cindy markovits.The grandmothers are Mrs. Ellen Basch and Mrs. Temimah Markovits.May Hashem give them all the koach to deal with this tragedy…hopefully Moshiach will be here very soon…Am Yisroel suffered enough…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    This was not caused by talking during davening. How do I know? Because the family davens at shor yaoshuv where there is zero repeat zero taking during davening. And they dont talk either. So what caused it? Coukd be anything bain adam lechaveiro. so let’s work on them all. At the same time lets all work on lo seyehe damim bevaisecha. Pool covers, child proofing homes.. these things are crucial

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    i know the family very well.
    he doesnt talk in shul….to comment 13
    and doesnt have sinas chinam…..to some other of you ppls “chamas chitzoniyas” comments.
    its a big tragedy but i beilive in HaShem and his loving hand. and im sure he took her with love just bc he wanted her soul back with him
    “y are you crying , the next world is a much better place” rebbe nachman once said to a mourner.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    and btw they have a huge gate around the entire pool erea which they always made sure was locked! the nanny drowned as well…..u can seee in the picrtures

    B"H
    B"H
    13 years ago

    BDE and to anyone with so called advice… please ask your rav if you should be on the internet dispensing advice etc to anyone…. no matter how well intentioned…. frankly its offensive.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    This was a geizera that was meant to happen and the little girl’s mission in life might be to teach us something like why do we leave our most precious Yiddishe kinderlich with people who we all at some point have personally witnessed do not always have the best or most intelligent judgment, like for instance why take a young child into the depth of the water??? Isn’t playing in the shallow part enough???

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    My heart breaks for both families involved in this terrible tragedy.What a terrible loss.
    To lose a child and so young……unfathomable the pain that this family will have to bear the rest of their lives as well as the surviving children of the unfortunate woman who lost her life.

    There is no fault here, it is simply a terrible tragedy that could have happened under a number of circumstances to ANYBODY.

    Rather than post the inane comments that some are, I would think this forum would better serve as a place to offer up condolences to both bereaved families and not cloud it with hatred and loshon harah.
    Shame on those who choose to do otherwise!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    This is aterrible tragedy. Everyone should learn to follow the rule of don’t enter a pool if there is noone watching you from the outside,

    Tzi Bar David
    Tzi Bar David
    13 years ago

    My goyishe neighbor, a NYC policeman with two toddlers, when he moved in to the house that had an in-ground swimming pool, the first thing…the FIRST THING … even before the moving van with their belongings arrived, …had a dump
    truck full of dirt come in and fill in the pool. He said he had been to too many of these things. His pool is now a garden. These terrible things happen to goyim to yidden several times a year. These pools are death traps waiting to spring on children.

    A lifeguard
    A lifeguard
    13 years ago

    IF SOMEONE FALLS INTO A POOL AND CANT SWIM, THEY SHOULD TRY TO REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL AND KICK OFF THE FLOOR which most of the time will bring them to the surface. keep on doing this, until you get to the shallow or help arrives. Try kicking off the floor in a way that will move you to the shallow. Hamakom yenacheim eschem bisoch shar availai tzion v’yerusolayim.

    cheenooch
    cheenooch
    13 years ago

    #46 …you unfortunately are a moron. your advise is useless in such circumstances….may g-d give you a brain one day.

    millhorse
    millhorse
    13 years ago

    from many of the remarks on this event we see that yidden have the same mental defects and superstitions as ofthers in the world.

    i talk in shul and i neverthe leass have a beautiful house in lawrence, a brokerage account with more than I will ever need, and descendants all over the place….wise up yidden.

    moshe
    moshe
    13 years ago

    Boruch Dayan Emes! a most terrible tragedy. May the family be comforted amongst aveily tzion veyerushalaim.

    under all circumstances it would be advisable for all yidden to check that all mezuzos at home etc. are Kosher and are affixed on all doors in the correct halachic manner! its not a joke!

    May the family be consoled and have only simcha always.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Hashem has his reasons and WE of course can not begin to understand. But one thing we do know is that we can always learn from every tragedy. From this one we can learn many thing, for one thing is not to be yentas and look to blame.

    The other things to learn is water safety and not to take water for granted. Hashem has charged us with the requirement of teaching our children to swim. Obviously because water can be as dangerous as it can be life saving. It is our responsibility to understand and to take every precaution around any body of water, and to teach our children the rules of water safety from the time they can understand the word “no”.

    Anyone with a pool should have lifesaving equipment at the ready. Anyone with a pool should set very strict rules for pool safety for anyone living or working in the home. Anyone with a pool should have ropes/floats separating the shallow end from the deep end and have a line painted on the bottom of the pool to show the separation. When adults do laps and remove the rope, they should put the rope back when done.

    No one should go swimming alone without supervision or without a partner who knows how to swim. Have a phone by pool.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    non jewish is one thing, but polish???!!! Do you not remember the stories from the holocaust how the polish & hungarians were the first to tell the germans where the yidden were hiding??

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Who knows what Hashem’s reasonings are, but when things like this happen the family must look at themselves. Maybe a Grandparent caused harm to someone? Maybe the parents did not always act appropriately towards others? We can all make guesses, but the bottom line is, we all need to look at ourselves and do better.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    I do have a pool too and do not open it because my little kids can not swim and it is not secured enough. Accidents do happen as this was. May hashem comfort the family hamukem yenachem eschem.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    It is not on our level to decide why people pass away. The Tosfos Yomtov did not know the reason for the Cossack massacres until he had a dream about it. The families are suffering and trying to find a reason for it, does not bring empathy for the families.In memory of the drowning victims, maybe a fund should be started to teach people how to swim and first aid at pools.

    tallman
    tallman
    13 years ago

    My grandchildren are all under 4 years old. Instead of buying jewelry for our wives and daughters, give the kids swim lessons. They start at the JCC at age 2 and the kids love it. All of my grandkids swim like fish and we don’t have a pool in the backyard. You never know when you may need this skill, even in the bathtub or a bucket of water!

    Perel
    Perel
    13 years ago

    Focus your chesed and energy upon helping the family or saying tefillos and/or learning to allow for aliyat hanefesh. Do not waste your time comforting yourself with the thought that if you follow all the “rules” nothing bad will ever happen to you. Evil words often rebound to the speaker at a later date—beware!
    Practice Ahavas Achim and have Rachmones for all who suffer in the world. Lend your loving hand to lift them in their time of tragedy. Be the model of the type of behavior and love you want the Aibeshte to have for you in your time of need.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Does anyone know if the levaya can be listened to online?

    shlomo zalman
    shlomo zalman
    13 years ago

    So far, we have seen different rabbonim of different time periods offer various punishments for talking in shul. Death of children, shuls destroyed by fire, parnasah problems, and health problems. The Sefer Hassidim of the 13th century is full of situations that cause children’s deaths (living in the wrong place, havng the wrong name, etc…). The bottom line is that neither Rabi Yehuda Hachasid, nor the Tosfos Yom Tov, nor the second Lubavitcher rebbe, nor any other person knew why it happened. But it happened alot, and it was simple human nature to look for or even dream of a cause. These claims should not be taken seriously, the fact that a godol “said so” is hardly proof. They were not gedolim by virtue of their ability to provide an explanation for everything. Even in our time, gedolim have provided explanations for almost everything, auto accidents, wars, cancer, even the Holocaust. To each his own, but these explanations are speculation and are certainly not binding.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    #47 … Your comment on #46 is off base. Their saying that the nanny must have been walking on the side of the pool and she fell into the deep. And it makes sense that she probably couldn’t swim. Now I dont know who you are, but you’ve got serious problems. Next time, check the facts before you sound like an idiot again.

    Actually
    Actually
    13 years ago

    I wonder how far we have fallen, that people look at the tragedies of others,and then have the gall to blame it on anyone other than themselves. The Gemara says that Rav Yehoshua ben Levi used to have Eliyahu Hanavi come to him. Then he stopped. And the Gemara explains that it was because a lion ate a man in his neighborhood. and He should have prayed that no one should be hurt in his neighborhood. Oh before i forget, By G-d, the Tosfos Yom Tov was not talking about you telling others that that is why their children died. He was talking about people introspecting.

    Perhaps it isn’t someone else talking. Perhaps it’s us not praying hard enough.

    Now that i started let me go further . I think this generation suffers most from two basic ills.
    1) that i deserve everything. And if i don’t get it i will kick and scream and act out like a kid.
    2) that i am better than someone else

    If you think into it, that is why we suffer from the shidduch crisis, the schools not taking in children, the agunah crisis. The kids going off.

    I wish Yehuda only the best, and hope he and his wife find comfort and get over this tragedy. May Hashem protect our children and bring us salvation.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    That’s why we have to realize that there is gray in the black and white. Maybe people who are on the level of the Tosfos YomTov will have such a harsh punishment happen to them, but regular people can’t be expected to live on that level. There are also so many ways to interpret things while still believing them; that’s why there’s no black and white to this and why it’s unanswerable. I just think that scaring people into doing what’s right is not the way to go. That’s why we have so many young people off the derech and older people just doing things that have no meaning to them. That’s why you have people asking, for example, “can I go get a haircut on my parent’s yahrzeit”? Is that even a question to ask? A person who is truly religious, who has truly taken in the teachings of the Rabbis, would’t even ask that. Because if you believe in all the “halachot” of the middot and mitzvot, then it’s ingrained in you and you don’t have to ask a question like that. If you believe in kibud av v’em, you don’t need a Rabbi to scare you into doing it.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    the child did have one on one help, but one on one help that wasn’t adequate! if she couldnt swim thats not adequate. if the kid wasnt (as she wasnt) wearing any flotation/safety devices while with a nanny who wasnt an swimmer, thats not adequate! parents should at least LEARN from this unfortunate story. bde