A two-year-old Georgia girl has died after drowning during her brother’s swim team event last week, according to local officials and the family’s attorney.
Attorney Natanya Brooks, who represents the family of Poppy Pepper, told Atlanta News First that the toddler drowned at the Oakhurst pool in Decatur on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 19. Pepper had attended the kick-off event with her mother, her 8-year-old brother, and her 3-month-old sister.
Brooks said the pool was closed to the public at the time. “There was no one else there besides the one family and the three lifeguards,” she explained.
According to Decaturish, Poppy’s older brother noticed her in the pool and alerted a lifeguard.
Remy Epps, Director of the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that staff were already performing CPR when EMS arrived. The child was transported to a hospital, but she did not survive.
“She loved her brother and sister and grandparents fiercely, and they called her ‘Poppy Girl.’ She represented unconditional love,” Brooks told Atlanta News First.
A spokesperson for the City of Decatur told PEOPLE that an investigation remains ongoing.
The Pepper family has also launched a GoFundMe to help cover final arrangements. “Our family has experienced an incredible loss of our beautiful daughter Poppy,” organizer John Michael Pepper wrote. “Please help us during this difficult time to take care of arrangements and allow us to grieve. Thank you for all of your help.”
Brooks said the family is deeply appreciative of the support they’ve received from the community. “They want everyone to know how meaningful the community response has been, and they are very thankful for the thoughts and prayers,” she told Atlanta News First. “But this is one of the worst things a parent can ever go through, and their entire family is involved, so it’s extremely hard.”
Brooks, who also spoke with Decaturish, confirmed she has been retained by the family but did not say whether they intend to pursue legal action following Poppy’s death.
