Usher’s son survives pool entrapment

The son of R&B performer Usher Raymond IV, better known as just Usher, was caught in a swimming pool drain in his Atlanta home while under the care of his aunt.

The five-year old, Usher Raymond V, was rushed to hospital and media reports indicate he has recovered and at the time of writing was due to leave hospital.

According to a police report, the child fell to the bottom of the pool and became stuck in a drain. A housekeeper tried unsuccessfully to free him but at the time a contractor was doing work on the home and came to the rescue, pulling the boy from the pool and performing CPR. According to the report, the boy was conscious, alert and breathing when emergency services arrived.

Following the incident, the boy’s mother - Usher's ex-wife, Tameka Foster Raymond - sought temporary custody of both their sons, saying the boys had been left unsupervised. However, the court heard that Usher’s aunt was watching the children at the time.

The Atlanta judge dismissed the case. Previously they had fought a long court battle over the children, with Usher being granted custody but details still to be determined. Mrs Raymond had broken down during testimony, and Usher comforted her after the judge issued his ruling.

The incident again highlighted the issue of entrapment in the United States, with some commentators saying it has brought more attention than even the tragic 2002 entrapment drowning of Virginia Graeme Baker, former Secretary of State James Baker’s grand-daughter. The Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) pool safety legislation is named after her.

There will be more on this story and related entrapment issues in the October printed edition of SPLASH!.

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