Parents grieve as boy, 3, dies in sleep

A Corinth Hills family is grieving the loss of their three-year-old son, who died after vomiting in his sleep early on January 12.

An autopsy conducted at the San Fernando General Hospital by Professor Hubert Daisley concluded Omarie Richins died from cerebral oedema (brain swelling), aspiration pneumonitis (acute lung inflammation from inhaling gastric acid), and lower respiratory tract infection. A toxicology report was also ordered after his mother told the hospital staff, Richins was seen drinking water from a drain, which could have been contaminated by pesticide or herbicide.

Speaking with reporters at his Demeter Lane home on January 13, Anderson, 58, recalled the moments leading up to his son's death. He said the family spent the evening prior eating pizza he brought home at Richin's request. Being his favourite meal, Anderson said Richins ate three slices consecutively before devouring one and a half more about two hours later. He also shared a bottle of mauby with his father.

Anderson said he and his wife had a heated disagreement that evening, so they retired to separate rooms. Richins was with his mother. Based on his wife's report, he said Richins woke up around 3 am, complaining of a headache, tummy ache and had a slight fever. However, believing he just had too many pizza slices, he said she applied Vicks VapoRub and went back to sleep.

Shortly after, she realised Richins was unresponsive and alerted Anderson. The former volunteer firefighter said he attempted several rounds of CPR while speaking with emergency health services on the phone.

"I ended up tilting his head (to the side), open his mouth, I took my hand and was moving the vomit out his mouth...the vomit was running out through the nose. I hold the nose and I start to suck the vomit out the nose," he said while demonstrating his last-ditch efforts to save his son on a stuffed animal.

He said the paramedics arrived shortly after and took Richins to the San Fernando General Hospital while he and his other son travelled to the facility. Upon arrival, he said he was informed that Richins had died.

"The way I am taking it is that I am not God, so if God sees it fit was to take him from us, all I have to do is just ask God to strengthen me because I don't know if my child might have been looking to go through an ordeal, a sufferation, and God say, 'Nah, nah, nah...better I take you, I go see about you.' That's how I looking at it."

He is urging parents to pay closer attention to their children when they are asleep.

"When you have young kids and they eat and even though you going to sleep, you must still get up and take your little check. Put your hand by they nostril, put your hand on their stomach."

He added: "Parents, when alyuh put alyuh children to sleep, don't take it for granted that they okay, because tragedies happen."

While not blaming his wife for the loss, he believes that had Richins slept by him, he may have noticed sooner and been able to help.

Anderson said he is trusting in the autopsy's findings. Asked about his son consuming the drain water, he said his wife reportedly saw Richins take a small cup, urinate in it, before filling it with runoff water from a neighbour's property. Though she quarrelled with Richins, he said his son had already taken a sip.