22-Month-Old Who Died After Dresser 'Tumbled Over and Trapped Her' Was 'Loved Deeply by Many'

Photo:Getty

Getty

A 22-month-old South Carolina girl died Sunday after a dresser fell on top of her while she was visiting her grandparents, officials said.

Ja’Laya Bryant was apparently “trying to climb a dresser when it tumbled over and trapped her,“the Anderson County Coroner’s Officesaid in a statement.

According to the investigation, the child died of asphyxiation, and there is “no indication of foul play.” However, the coroner said an investigation is ongoing.

EMS personnel responded to the scene for a cardiac arrest, provided emergency medical care and transported Ja’Laya to Prisma Health Trauma Services, where she died at 12:22 p.m. local time.

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Jessica Fleming, who identified herself as Ja’Laya’s great-aunt, toldGood Morning Americathat authorities believe the girl reached for bracelets on top of a dresser when the furniture fell, trapping her between the dresser and the bed. She said they believe a dresser drawer fell on the toddler’s chest as well.

“You really don’t think about it till it happens to your family, but tie the dressers down, pin them to the wall,” Fleming toldGMAin an effort to prevent future furniture-related tragedies. “Put stuff up where a toddler cannot pull it over on them, where an accident doesn’t happen.”

“Accidents can happen literally within seconds especially with curious 22-month-olds,” she added. “Take our heartache and devastation as a wake-up call for families to have furniture safely secured.”

source: people.com