Philadelphia

Stepfather Says 6-Year-Old Hit Head, Was Gasping for Air Before Death, Philadelphia Police Say

Philadelphia police probe death of 6-year-old, who was hearing-impaired, at home

Authorities probe death of 6-year-old at Philadelphia home
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 6-year-old boy who fell at his Philadelphia home.
The hearing-impaired boy's stepfather told authorities the youth had been playing outside when he went into the home around 4:45 p.m. Thursday and slipped on the kitchen floor, injuring his head. The boy's mother was at work at the time.
The stepfather said he put the boy in bed upstairs and went outside to smoke a cigarette. He found the boy gasping for air about 15 minutes later and moved him to another bedroom before returning downstairs.
The stepfather found the boy unresponsive about 40 minutes later.
But emergency responders were not called until around 7:20 p.m. The boy was pronounced dead at the home a short time later.
Authorities say the stepfather didn't say why he waited to call 911.

Authorities are investigating the death of a 6-year-old boy who fell at his Southwest Philadelphia home.

The hearing-impaired boy's stepfather told authorities the boy had been playing outside when he went into the South Daggett Street home around 4:45 p.m. Thursday and slipped on the kitchen floor, injuring his head. The boy's mother was at work at the time.

The stepfather said he put the boy in bed upstairs and went outside to smoke a cigarette. He found the boy gasping for air about 15 minutes later and moved him to another bedroom before returning downstairs.

The stepfather found the boy unresponsive about 40 minutes later.

But emergency responders were not called until around 7:20 p.m. The boy was pronounced dead at the home a short time later.

Authorities say the stepfather didn't say why he waited to call 911.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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