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Gainesville Police and Fire Rescue responded to a child drowning in a retention pond around 5 p.m. Thursday.
Taychianna Figueroa said her four-year-old son, Kash Waylan Hodges fell asleep next to his father at Celeste’s Pet Spa & Mobile Grooming in Gainesville. When Kash’s father woke up he was nowhere to be found.
“His father shot out this front door so quick, so fast, without hesitation, to find our son. And we’re screaming his name and calling. We’re asking people, Have you seen this little boy?”
By the time Figueroa arrived back to the shop after stepping out to get food, her life forever changed.
Four-year-old Kash made his way to a nearby retention pond and drowned.
“I don’t know how I didn’t trip over my own feet, but I ran. Like if I was on air at all, I saw was his father pulling this little boy out of the water.And I saw my son I I. . I just fell to my knees. And as a mother, you know, you should prepare for these things,” Figueroa said.
Gainesville Police administered CPR immediately. First responders transported Kash to UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. The child passed away about 45 minutes later, according to police.
“The doctor came in and just sat on the bed and my heart sunk to the ground because I already knew what they were going to say to me. They said his heart couldn’t restart, his heart wasn’t restarted. They did everything they can and I lost it. I grieve that day. I screamed at the top of my lungs, Why me? ”
Kash who was slightly autistic, born on Valentine’s Day, stole everyone’s heart, his mom says.
Uncle Theo & Kash
“He loved brushing his teeth. I mean, you would see this boy with two teeth, brushes and just walk up to you and say brush your teeth, brush your teeth. Everywhere he went, he was something special. He he would make you smile when you cried.”
She wants to warn other parents to always be cautious.
“I plead that something is done for him and for future kids so they don’t experience the amount of harm and hurt and just loss words. I pray that the parents that did go through this in the past that you found peace and just know I’m with you too. Grieving with you too, because no parent should have to answer to no one for something that happened so quickly is so tragic.”
