Family, friends put up memorial for 4-year-old who drowned

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s closing in on a month since a 4-year-old boy drowned during a swimming lesson in Burke County.

On Saturday, family and friends gathered at a memorial put up in honor of the child, Izzy Scott, near the site of the incident.

A banner with the hashtag #preventinstructorledchilddrownings, and a few of Izzy’s favorite things: blue dinosaurs, a teddy bear, and his favorite superhero Spiderman, now marks the spot on the corner of W 4 Points Road and Highway 25. It’s just over a quarter-mile from where the drowning occurred.

And though time has passed since the incident, the family is still looking for answers. They said he was a caring kid, putting a smile on everyone he met, and that’s exactly why this family says they’ll stop at nothing to make sure he isn’t forgotten.

“Nobody’s fighting for that life that was here. Nobody but us,” said Scott’s cousin, Jakelia Martin.

EARLIER COVERAGE:

• No decision made on charges in boy’s drowning, DA says
• Parents, attorney open up about 4-year-old’s drowning death
• Burke County Sheriff’s Office releases report on child’s drowning
• Authorities identify 4-year-old boy in drowning death

“Why in the world? Did you even allow 8, 9, 10 children at once with no other assistance with you?” said Lydia Gloverfields, Scott’s great aunt.

According to the autopsy, Izzy’s death was ruled accidental, and no foul play was suspected or indicated.

“If we release our children to someone, and we rely on them to care for those kids. If something happens to those babies, they should be held liable at this point, what Burke County is saying, if you drop your children off somewhere, and you go to work, when you come back and get them, they may not be alive anymore,” Martin said.

Bringing awareness to not only his death but to prevent another.

“We will use anything we have in order to get justice for Izzy, to let people know this isn’t just about his death. We are going to forcefully keep other babies from dying at the hands of swim instructors,” Gloverfields said.

As for plans in the immediate future, Gloverfields said they’d like to work on legislation to protect children from drowning and start a foundation in Izzy’s honor.

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