Girl Dies After Being in Coma for 11 Years
A Santa Ana girl who spent 11 years in a coma after nearly drowning in a swimming pool has died, authorities said Saturday.
Ariel Caldwell was 3 years old when the accident occurred on March 26, 1989. She was 14 when she died Tuesday at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Anaheim Hills, said Bruce Lyle, supervising deputy coroner.
Officials said she lived at least part of that time with her parents.
“Imagine the parents going through that pain all those years,” said Sheriff Lt. Larry Abbott.
“As a parent, when do you give up? Or do you? It’s tragic.”
The coroner’s office listed the cause of death as pneumonia.
More than 60% of all children who drown in pools are younger than 4. A child loses consciousness after being submerged for two minutes, according to the National Safety Council. Irreversible brain damage sets in after four to six minutes.
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