Baby grandson of Jack Nicklaus found dead in a hot tub

[Liebling:-)))]

I guess I'll have to take an opposing stance on this. Adults are responsible for keeping children safe. Someone was responsible for the child's safety when he found his way into the hot tub.

I sell, install and service pools and hottubs. I know they are dangerous to small children. I warn parents of this. My hot tubs come with childproof covers. The pools have fences around them. Alarms are available to detect a child falling in a pool. They don't cost much more than a smoke alarm. The children can wear a "water turtle" bracelet that sets off an alarm if it gets submerged.

Seventeen months is the age of my granddaughter. I am well familiar with the ability of a child that age to get into mischief if left unattended. You cannot leave them alone even in a room containing nothing but toys! They are facinated by water.

IMHO, the nanny was a professional hired to be a surrogate parent in the absence of the parents. She was responsible for the child's safety. She neglected her professional duty and the result was a dead child. Should she be prosecuted for the death? That I don't know. I did not do the investigation, and I am not the parent. Parents and babysitters have been charged and convicted numerous times in similar circumstances. Similar in what has been released to the media anyway. To me, leaving a child that age unattended with access to a hot tub, or even a full bathtub, is not much different than leaving a loaded gun where they can get to it, or leaving a child unattended in a running vehicle.

It is indeed a sad situation for everyone involved. It hits me personally because I see parents of toddlers with pools and hottubs all the time and I spend a lot of time and energy trying to educate them on child safety. To me, it was no more of an accident than a child killed in a wreck because it was not in a carseat, but standing up in the seat. So easy to prevent with a little common sense.

Good point. ***nodding with agreement***

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Shaking a baby to death is no accident. It would be like somebody 'accidentally' hitting you over the head 20 times with a bat and then saying 'I didn't mean to kill him'.

This is a tragic story. I guess I'm sensitive when it comes to children so even though it was an accident, IMO something should be done. I remember how angry I was when a father left his infant in a hot van in Virginia a few years ago. It was an accident and he didn't mean to do it, but was negligent. I kind of feel the same way about parents who do not secure items in their house to prevent accidental death (such as swimming pools, hot tubs, firearms, chemicals normally under the sink).

I'm inclined to agree with you. While I don't think they should charge the Nanny with manslaughter or anything like that, I do think they need to charge her with something. Perhaps, neglect? I've been thinking, and you're right, something doesn't sit right. Someone needs to be held accountable for the child's death, because, a baby did die.

 

[Taylor]

I'm inclined to agree with you. While I don't think they should charge the Nanny with manslaughter or anything like that, I do think they need to charge her with something. Perhaps, neglect? I've been thinking, and you're right, something doesn't sit right. Someone needs to be held accountable for the child's death, because, a baby did die.

Exactly. I didn't see Codgers post when I posted, but he is right on the money. There are steps that need to be taken to protect children. While it can sometimes be difficult to baby-proof and entire house, it isn't impossible and there are many things out there to assist. Codger mentions a lot when it comes to pools and hot tubs (didn't know about the bracelets..thats pretty cool).

I have nieces that come and stay with me very frequently. They aren't here 24/7 but I have babyproofed my house to prevent such accidents (storing chemicals and cleaners in a locked area, etc). One thing that comes to mind is the tools I use for my job. I wouldn't dare keep my service weapon laying around and unsecured where one of my nieces could get it.

 

[Codger]

Water Turtle

http://petsafe-warehouse.com/turtles/index.htm
Less than $200.

I am finishing my pool for the kids here on the farm this spring. You can dang well bet I will buy at least two to keep here for my grandkids to use when they visit. The entire pool is enclosed with a childproof fence,

and a gate alarm will be installed too (kids can be real inventive!)(less than $60)
http://www.amerimerc.com/pool_supply/pool_alarm/gate_pool_alarm.asp

and a seperate in-pool alarm will be installed as well(less than $200)
http://www.amerimerc.com/pool_supply/pool_alarm/inground_pool_alarm.asp

 

[WBHarley]

Codger, Thank you for these links...

I do get nervouswreck when i am at my sister's house.. their last daughter has epiplsey, so I tend get nervous when she's near the pool! (inground pool) and also Hottub.. Im going to send them the link.. hopefully they will do this to get this "less feeling" for my sister too! she does get nervous too... We all do!.. We even lock the slidedoors, etc but still *biting fingernails*


Wendy

 

[Codger]

WBHarley, those were only quick links I scrounged with a quick search. While I can vouch for the products by my own experiences, I won't stick my neck out for the links! But they do show and explain the products available. I buy my alarms from my distributor here in Tennessee at dealer cost. They can check about buying these products from their local dealer/supplier. You might even find great deals on ebay.

It is the cheapest insurance they can get. And there is a door alarm listed for that patio door too! Don't you think Mr. and Mrs. Nicklaus wish they had spent a few bucks on this sort of thing?

And again I must say that my heart goes out to the Nicklauses. Few things in life are so heartbreaking as a parent burying a child.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Exactly. I didn't see Codgers post when I posted, but he is right on the money. There are steps that need to be taken to protect children. While it can sometimes be difficult to baby-proof and entire house, it isn't impossible and there are many things out there to assist. Codger mentions a lot when it comes to pools and hot tubs (didn't know about the bracelets..thats pretty cool).

I have nieces that come and stay with me very frequently. They aren't here 24/7 but I have babyproofed my house to prevent such accidents (storing chemicals and cleaners in a locked area, etc). One thing that comes to mind is the tools I use for my job. I wouldn't dare keep my service weapon laying around and unsecured where one of my nieces could get it.

 

[The*Empress]

I knew it, Nicklaus quit golfing. He said he ain't golfing anymore.

The Golden Bear says goodbye to the Masters

By NANCY ARMOUR, AP National Writer
April 9, 2005

AP - Apr 9, 2:43 pm EDT
More Photos


AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Jack Nicklaus stood alone on the ninth green, taking a long look at the cheering crowd before dipping his head and brushing away the tears.

So much of his legacy was forged at the Masters, a simple goodbye somehow seemed inadequate. This was what the 65-year-old, six-time champion wanted, though. No ceremonial last round, no grand sendoff.

A few minutes of applause, a hug from his oldest son, and then he was gone, walking off the course at Augusta National for what he says is the last time.

``I don't think I'll play in the tournament again,'' Nicklaus said Saturday after shooting a 4-over 76 and missing the cut by five strokes.

``I think it's fine to go ahead and say goodbye and so forth and so on, but I think you say goodbye when you think you can still play a little bit. I think I can play a little bit, but I can't play well enough to be playing.''

There was a time when nobody played better. Certainly not at the Masters.

Nicklaus won six of his 18 majors here (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986), two more green jackets than Arnold Palmer. He was the first to win in consecutive years, and still holds the record as the oldest champion for his last victory at age 46.


``It's a special place,'' said Nicklaus' wife, Barbara. ``It's been a special place for a lot of years.''

But it's no longer his place. The Golden Bear hasn't made the cut since 2000, and hasn't been in contention since he tied for sixth in 1998. Unlike Palmer, he never wanted a ceremonial sendoff, loathing the idea that he might have stayed too long.

``This is not a celebrity walk-around,'' he said. ``This is a golf tournament. It's a major golf championship. If you're going to play in this championship, you should be competitive and you should be able to compete with who is out there.''

He had planned to make 2004 his last year. But after the March 1 drowning death of his 17-month-old grandson, Jake, chairman Hootie Johnson coaxed Nicklaus into coming back one more time.

After playing several rounds with his sons the last few weeks, Nicklaus agreed.

``I think it was good for everybody,'' said his wife, who walked the course with her children and some family friends. ``It's been very heartwarming. Everybody's been wonderful, and the support has been wonderful.''

Nicklaus didn't announce this would be his last appearance. Other players didn't even know this was his final round.

``Hopefully, he doesn't,'' Tiger Woods said when asked about Nicklaus leaving. ``We didn't give him a sendoff.''


But Nicklaus wanted to make one last run, not a spectacle of himself.

When he started his second round on the 11th hole Saturday morning, his mind was on the three birdies he thought he would need to make the cut. So he set out with son and caddie Jackie, planning to stay until Sunday.

``He said, `It's either going to be a 16-hole day or a 34-hole day,''' Jackie said.

But he bogeyed three of his first four holes, all but ending his chances. As his score climbed and the numbers he needed to make the cut dropped, fans began doing the math. His galleries grew for his final holes, with appreciative fans standing to applaud every time he walked onto a tee.

``If you're a golf fan, you're a Jack Nicklaus fan,'' said Mark Tinsley, of Wilmington, N.C., who watched Nicklaus at the seventh green and then made his way over to No. 9. ``If he's not going to make it, I'd like to see his last hole here.''

Nicklaus refused to think about the end until it was upon him. After putting his second shot on the par-4 No. 9 within four feet of the pin, he knew there was no tomorrow, and his emotions quickly got the best of him.

He and Jackie walked up to the green together and then the son stepped back, making sure his father was front-and-center when he stepped onto the putting surface. Nicklaus looked around, took it all in, then bowed his head to wipe away the tears and compose himself. After all, he still had a putt to make -- a birdie chance, at that.

``His eyes were pretty wet as he got on top of that hill. He got me choked up,'' playing partner and friend Jay Haas said. ``I wanted him to make that last putt.''

But it wasn't to be, as the ball burned the right edge of the cup. The crowd groaned and Nicklaus looked around in exasperation. After he tapped in, there was one last smile and wave.

Then he walked to the scorer's shed and turned in his last Masters scorecard.

``It's a treasure for me,'' Nicklaus said. ``And I'll miss that greatly.''

 

[Cheri]

I guess I'll have to take an opposing stance on this. Adults are responsible for keeping children safe. Someone was responsible for the child's safety when he found his way into the hot tub.

I sell, install and service pools and hottubs. I know they are dangerous to small children. I warn parents of this. My hot tubs come with childproof covers. The pools have fences around them. Alarms are available to detect a child falling in a pool. They don't cost much more than a smoke alarm. The children can wear a "water turtle" bracelet that sets off an alarm if it gets submerged.

Seventeen months is the age of my granddaughter. I am well familiar with the ability of a child that age to get into mischief if left unattended. You cannot leave them alone even in a room containing nothing but toys! They are facinated by water.

IMHO, the nanny was a professional hired to be a surrogate parent in the absence of the parents. She was responsible for the child's safety. She neglected her professional duty and the result was a dead child. Should she be prosecuted for the death? That I don't know. I did not do the investigation, and I am not the parent. Parents and babysitters have been charged and convicted numerous times in similar circumstances. Similar in what has been released to the media anyway. To me, leaving a child that age unattended with access to a hot tub, or even a full bathtub, is not much different than leaving a loaded gun where they can get to it, or leaving a child unattended in a running vehicle.

It is indeed a sad situation for everyone involved. It hits me personally because I see parents of toddlers with pools and hottubs all the time and I spend a lot of time and energy trying to educate them on child safety. To me, it was no more of an accident than a child killed in a wreck because it was not in a carseat, but standing up in the seat. So easy to prevent with a little common sense.

I agree, When parents have a pool or hot tub, they need child proof as possible because, accidents do happen and that child was only 17 mons old. Who was watching him?

 

[Angel]

That's really sad to hear, I think the nanny should have been charge for something better than letting her go by closing the case...Of course accidents do happen but the nanny is suppose to be watching the child by keeping that child safe from any type of accidents.... Such a shame :::shaking my head:::

Btw Codger, well said there

 

[mlkshkgrl]

I would have a hard time forgiving myself or that nanny. How tragic and sad that this had happend.

 

[sara1981]

i read in People magazine and CNN articles its really stupid idea for his grandsons to put in hot tub! if i have children i dont wanted my kids in hot tub getting hurt!

Sara Boyce