GA - Poppy Pepper, 3, drowns in pool despite 3 lifeguards on duty - Atlanta, Sep 2025

[Clearsky]

3 days after toddler drowns in Decatur pool, family wants answers

Poppy Pepper’s family attorney said she was at the pool for a kick-off event for her older brother’s swim team when it happened.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

Poppy Pepper’s family attorney said she was at the pool for a kick-off event for her older brother’s swim team when it happened.

 

[TMich6811]

I’m confused. I understand the lifeguards should be accountable but surely the family was watching her around water too right?

 

[ErinC]

I’m confused. I understand the lifeguards should be accountable but surely the family was watching her around water too right?

Could have easily been a case of each person thinking the other was watching. "I thought you had her!" "I thought YOU had her!" "Wait, where is she then?" We've seen that happen at way too many family get togethers. MOO

 

[Gemmie]

Could have easily been a case of each person thinking the other was watching. "I thought you had her!" "I thought YOU had her!" "Wait, where is she then?" We've seen that happen at way too many family get togethers. MOO

This part of the MSM is confusing:

Pepper went to the pool on Friday with her mom, her 8-year old-brother and her 3-month-old little sister. It was after the pool closed to the public for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff event for her brother’s swim team.

“At this time, there was no one else there besides the one family and the three lifeguards,” said Brooks.

At 3:55 p.m., DeKalb County Fire and Rescue responded and Pepper was rushed to Children’s Hospital.

3 days after toddler drowns in Decatur pool, family wants answers

Poppy Pepper’s family attorney said she was at the pool for a kick-off event for her older brother’s swim team when it happened.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

I'm not understanding that timeline. Fire and Rescue got there at 3:55 and rushed her to the hospital, 35 minutes before the pool closed to the public for the kickoff event. So why point out "at this time (4:30) there was no one there but the family and 3 lifeguards? I've got to be missing something.

 

[Gemmie]

A little more info for the timeline:

she tragically drowned around 4pm, family lawyer Natanya Brooks confirmed.

'As far as I know, the only people that were there were just the family and the lifeguards,'

The fall kickoff event for her brother's swim team was scheduled to start at 4:30pm. Around 3:55pm, Poppy's older sibling noticed her in the pool and contacted a lifeguard.

Girl, 2, drowns at brother's swim event as family blames lifeguards

Poppy Pepper, of Dacula, near Atlanta, was with her family at the pool on when she tragically drowned. Three lifeguards were on site the day of the accident.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[bombardier]

This part of the MSM is confusing:

Pepper went to the pool on Friday with her mom, her 8-year old-brother and her 3-month-old little sister. It was after the pool closed to the public for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff event for her brother’s swim team.

“At this time, there was no one else there besides the one family and the three lifeguards,” said Brooks.

At 3:55 p.m., DeKalb County Fire and Rescue responded and Pepper was rushed to Children’s Hospital.

3 days after toddler drowns in Decatur pool, family wants answers

Poppy Pepper’s family attorney said she was at the pool for a kick-off event for her older brother’s swim team when it happened.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

I'm not understanding that timeline. Fire and Rescue got there at 3:55 and rushed her to the hospital, 35 minutes before the pool closed to the public for the kickoff event. So why point out "at this time (4:30) there was no one there but the family and 3 lifeguards? I've got to be missing something.

and i wonder if the lifeguards were on duty? not sure if they also watch over these private club engagements.

 

[Chimera]

Since the lifeguards and family were there, did she fall in and no one noticed until it was too late ?
How sad.
That little girl was a cutie pie.
Her poor family.
Rest in peace, Poppy.

 

[*LD*]

Please be gentle with this family. The mother is a swim teacher at this city pool. This is a terrible tragedy.

 

[Gemmie]

and i wonder if the lifeguards were on duty? not sure if they also watch over these private club engagements.

She was discovered ~35 minutes (3:55) before the swim meet (4:30). The pool was still public at that time from what I've gleaned from what little MSM there is out there, so I could be wrong about that. Lifeguards should be on duty when the pool is open/public. Unsure about the actual meet. Maybe mom/swim coach is enough as there are so few people in the pool during a meeting, and everything is pretty orderly.

 

[realanastasia]

Please be gentle with this family. The mother is a swim teacher at this city pool. This is a terrible tragedy.

Truly a tragedy, no doubt about that—but given that the family has retained an attorney and is ostensibly considering pursuing legal action against the pool/city, her mother’s position as a swim teacher would not seem to be relevant to the case. If anything, a swim instructor who works at this pool (is this MSM verified?) would be expected to be especially cognizant of the necessity of constantly keeping an eye or hand on all small children around a pool.

 

[vls12345]

Family: Lifeguards were at Oakhurst Pool when child drowned

The attorney and her family are seeking more answers about what happened to 2-year-old Poppy Pepper of Dacula. Her mom is a swim coach and she was there with her other two children for an event when the incident occurred.

www.decaturish.com

The city uses a private contractor to provide lifeguard services at the pool. According to the city’s website, the pool is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. In a news release, the city said that Decatur Fire Rescue responded to 450 East Lake Drive at 3:55 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, after a report of an unresponsive child.

Pepper’s mother was there for a “fall kickoff” event scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Oakhurst Pool, Brooks said. Pepper’s older sibling noticed her in the pool and contacted a lifeguard. Her mother performed CPR and staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta worked for hours to save her life.

I wonder if the lifeguards were "off duty" since the pool supposedly closed at 3 and the private event wasn't supposed to start until 4:30? Perhaps Poppy made her way into the pool area but nobody else (parents, lifeguards, other employees) was there? (Maybe they were in an office, snack/vending room/changing areas?) MOO.

 

[outback]

She was discovered ~35 minutes (3:55) before the swim meet (4:30). The pool was still public at that time from what I've gleaned from what little MSM there is out there, so I could be wrong about that. Lifeguards should be on duty when the pool is open/public. Unsure about the actual meet. Maybe mom/swim coach is enough as there are so few people in the pool during a meeting, and everything is pretty orderly.

The local YMCA where I live will not let people in the pool without a lifeguard on duty. The door leading to the pool is locked and can only be opened by the lifeguard.

Jmo

 

[dmac55]

She was discovered ~35 minutes (3:55) before the swim meet (4:30). The pool was still public at that time from what I've gleaned from what little MSM there is out there, so I could be wrong about that. Lifeguards should be on duty when the pool is open/public. Unsure about the actual meet. Maybe mom/swim coach is enough as there are so few people in the pool during a meeting, and everything is pretty orderly.

“According to the city’s website, the pool is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday”

Family: Lifeguards were at Oakhurst Pool when child drowned | Public Safety |
decaturish.comFamily: Lifeguards were at Oakhurst Pool when child drowned

 

[Gemmie]

“According to the city’s website, the pool is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday”

Family: Lifeguards were at Oakhurst Pool when child drowned | Public Safety |
decaturish.comFamily: Lifeguards were at Oakhurst Pool when child drowned

That's really GTK. But if that's true, then she could have been in the pool from 3:00-3:55 when she was found. If it's closed to the public at 3pm, then there wouldn't necessarily be a whole lot of kids/people in the pool after 3:00. Perhaps Poppy and siblings, since they were hanging out with mom the coach, and perhaps other kids that were there for the meet.

That just feels like less people, and less splashing around with a drowning child going unnoticed. It's really a head-scratcher for me.

 

[nao]

Moo..have not been to a swimming pool in awhile. But rules I remember were child under a certain age must be accompanied by an adult...moo

 

[Tutter]

I’m so sorry this little one was lost.

But if I’m the mom at the pool with my kids, no one is responsible but me, imo.

 

[*LD*]

Truly a tragedy, no doubt about that—but given that the family has retained an attorney and is ostensibly considering pursuing legal action against the pool/city, her mother’s position as a swim teacher would not seem to be relevant to the case. If anything, a swim instructor who works at this pool (is this MSM verified?) would be expected to be especially cognizant of the necessity of constantly keeping an eye or hand on all small children around a pool.

The legalities of this horrible accident are not relevant to my comment.