Deaf-mute drowns in pool

From: Trinidad & Tobago Express - Port-of-Spain,Trinidad and Tobago - Mar 8, 2006

-Richard Charan
Wednesday, March 8th 2006

In her final moments Sade Samlal would not have been able to scream for help, as she drowned.

The 12-year-old girl could not speak or hear. She was found face-down on Monday evening in a plastic, portable swimming pool set up in the porch of her parents' home in Marabella.

Her mother declined to speak about the incident but her uncle, Willan Meijas, said the family was grieving over the tragedy.

Sade was also the niece of Southern Division Sgt Anthony Charles.

"Despite her problems, she was so intelligent. I don't known how this happened," Meijas said.

Police were told that Samlal was alone in the pool around 4 p.m.

The family live in an apartment at the junction of Battoo Avenue and Union Road.

When she was found, paramedics were called in but Sade was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Marabella Police are investigating.