Parents of boy killed in washing machine speak

[onedef92]

Parents of boy killed in washing machine speak

Posted: Apr 03, 2012 5:52 AM EDT
Updated: Apr 03, 2012 5:59 AM EDT

(Source: CNN/KSL)OREM, UT (CNN/KSL) – A Utah toddler drowned in the family's washing machine, and in their grief, Ollie Hebb's parents want to share an important warning with other families.

"I was just at home, doing my laundry like I always do with my little boy," said Tiffany Hebb, Ollie's mother.

Just a normal day in the Hebb home and that little boy, 21-month-old Ollie went missing in the blink of an eye.

"I walked around through my whole house, calling his name and couldn't find him anywhere. And then I put my hands in the washer and felt his little body. Worst day of my life," said Hebb.

Hebb and a neighbor frantically began CPR until ambulances arrived and rushed Ollie to the hospital, but it was too late.

"Obviously it's really hard to see your little boy's body on the table, wishing that he was going to come home with you," said Ollie's father, Chris Hebb.

For the Hebbs, a basic appliance they use daily, never crossed their mind as a danger to their only son.

"I didn't think a child could fit in and the washer came up to his chest so I didn't think he could pull himself up to it," said Hebb.

They now have a warning to all parents.

"Everyone talks about the tub, and I knew never to leave him alone in the tub.I just want to make mothers and fathers aware that it's a possibility, I never, even after it happened it still didn't seem real," said Hebb.

Now they're back in Utah to bury their little boy.

"There's just such a void, he would be sitting between us right now probably," said Hebb.

[CP]

Originally Posted by onedef92

"I didn't think a child could fit in and the washer came up to his chest so I didn't think he could pull himself up to it," said Hebb.

Jeebus, how big was that kid? My washer is above my waist. A 21 month old is, what, 2.5 feet tall???

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by CP

Jeebus, how big was that kid? My washer is above my waist. A 21 month old is, what, 2.5 feet tall???

Side load washer

[Yerf Dog]

IBTLawsuit

[NeedSpeed]

Originally Posted by Drew M

Side load washer

I still don't get it either. Was it sitting there open with water in it??

[Thud]

Originally Posted by NeedSpeed

I still don't get it either. Was it sitting there open with water in it??

They don't fill up until after you close the door.... I guess she must've stepped away for a second to get some more clothes, came back to toss them in and shut the door.

[Omega Man]

Our washer has a lock on it. I feel terrible for the parents and family. Losing a child is not something I would want to go through.

[CP]

Originally Posted by Drew M

Side load washer

Front load washers don't have that much water in them.

Is this what happened: Kid climbs in, mom inattentively throws in dirty clothes, shuts the door, and starts the washer???

I don't think a 21 month old is capable of shutting the front load washer door from the inside.

Someone needs to come clean..... ()

[onedef92]

Side load washer

I got the impression he climbed into a top load washer. They hold a lot of water, enough to drown in for sure.

[Barkingowl]

Wouldn't he try screaming or kicking the door open?

[HeatherO]

[Torqaholic]

I know how many clothes my washer holds. If I couldn't fit a normal load in it I'd be finding out why. Sucks to be her kid.

[Scissors]

Yet another example of how top-load is better.