Ex-MLB star Carl Crawford ‘struggling’ after a woman and young boy drowned in his pool
GRIEVING ex-MLB star Carl Crawford admits he is struggling after a woman and young boy drowned in his pool, saying his “heart is heavy”.
Asking people to pray for the pair on Instagram, he said: “The tragic events that occurred at my home will be with me forever. I’m at loss for words.”
A five-year-old boy and a woman drowned in the backyard pool of the former Los Angeles Dodgers player’s Houston home in Texas on May 16.
On Saturday, Crawford, 38, described his emotions and struggle to cope with their deaths.
He wrote on Instagram: “My hearts heavy [sic]. The tragic events that occurred at my home will be with me forever.
“I’m at loss for words.
“I’ve struggled all week to manage my emotions and I keep thinking of the families of those who’ve passed and their grief, I know they have it the hardest.
“They are the first and last thing I think of these days.
“Please keep them in your prayers, I know they will always be in mine.”
People replied to Crawford that they were praying for him, and urged him to “stay strong”.
One woman added: “I am so sorry this happened and I know that you feel bad for this and their family. Sending prayers.”
Bethany Lartigue, 24, reportedly jumped in to save the boy during a gathering at the star’s house.
Her sister said “she always put other people first”.
Houston Police confirmed the victims were unconscious on arrival and paramedics desperately tried to revive them.
They were taken to Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital where they were pronounced dead.
The Sun can reveal the second victim has now been identified as five-year-old Kasen Hersi, while autopsy results for the pair are still pending.
Tributes have been posted on Twitter by friends of his mother, Jazmin Hernandez, well-known in Houston as model Slim Marie.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Bethany’s sister Denise said: “I’m still trying to process everything.
“I was sad of course, but proud of her because she always put other people first.
“Everyone who met Bethany knew she was a special person and she always had a smile on her face, and made everyone else smile around her.”
Denise says Bethany, of Dallas, Texas, did not know little Kasen, who was being cared for by adults at the party, organized to celebrate the success of Carl’s record label, 1501 Certified Entertainment.
She says they are yet to speak to his family and are still coming to terms with what happened as they piece together the tragic events of the weekend.
“I know she loved the water, but anyone knows if you’re going in to save anyone who’s drowning you’re putting yourself at risk,” Denise said.
“When people are scared they get frantic and grab onto the person trying to help them and push them under.
“It’s really not recommended to jump in and save people like that, it’s recommended to throw in some kind of flotation device.”
Denise said she has been “touched” by the outpouring of tributes for her heroic sister, and has launched a Go Fund Me account to raise money for Bethany’s funeral, which has already surpassed $6,000.
In a statement sent out by Crawford’s rep, the former sportsman revealed he is in “complete shock” over the tragedy.
He said that, “a terrible accident occurred at my residence resulting in the tragic loss of two precious lives.
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“It’s devastating, I’m in complete shock and don’t really know how to move forward in this moment because my heart aches so deeply for the families.
“After I reached out directly to the families to express my condolences and willingness to stand side by side with them as they grieve through this difficult process, I agreed to share this joint statement on their behalf.
“We are heartbroken and deeply saddened by our loss.”
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