Toddler rescued from river dies 6 months after fall

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2000

TAMPA -- A child who fell into the Hillsborough River six months ago died June 21 from complications of the fall.

The accident occurred on Dec. 8 when three of the four Torres children wandered from their home. An hour later, two of them were found floating in the river.

Three-year-old Meriah died that day. Julian, who turned 3 in February, was pulled from the water alive. But Julian's weakened lungs succumbed to bronchial pneumonia, and he died last Wednesday, Hillsborough Sheriff's officials said.

Julian lived with his parents, Benjamin Torres and Tiffany Martinez, at River Tree Landing apartments on the banks of the Hillsborough River. Neighbors said the children were not allowed outside alone but somehow eluded their parents the morning of Dec. 8.

Once Julian and Meriah fell into the 61-degree water, a 4-foot wooden embankment trapped them in the river. Their father found Benjamin's body minutes later and began performing CPR. Meriah's body was found by a sheriff's diver.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.