A tragic incident unfolded as a young child lost her life due to drowning while her father unintentionally fell asleep in a hot tub, according to law enforcement authorities.
The victim, 18-month-old Azariah Hough, was staying at an Airbnb in Florida with her father, Reynard Tyrone Hough, 33, when the unfortunate event occurred on December 13. Hough, who had recently arrived from Washington DC with his family, was holding his daughter while inside the hot tub when he fell asleep for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Upon waking up, he discovered Azariah unresponsive, as confirmed by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department.
Despite Hough’s immediate CPR efforts and the mother’s call for assistance, Azariah was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead around 4:30am on the same day. It was revealed that Hough had consumed alcohol and two different narcotics before entering the hot tub, leading detectives to assert that negligence and the influence of substances played a role in the tragic incident.
Hough has been taken into custody and charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm and manslaughter by aggravated abuse of a child, as reported by the Daily Mail. He is currently detained at the Osceola County Jail.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss, Hough’s sister Angel shared her distress on WESH-TV, remembering Azariah fondly and emphasizing the impact of the tragedy on their family. The Peoples Funeral Home highlighted Azariah’s vibrant personality and loving nature, noting the profound loss felt by her siblings, family, and friends.
Addressing water safety concerns, Captain Kim Montes of the sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of vigilance when children are near water, stressing the need for undistracted parental supervision to ensure their safety. She expressed empathy for the devastated parents, acknowledging the challenging circumstances they faced with their other infant child present during the incident.
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