DATE: Monday, September 1, 1997             TAG: 9709010097
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: HAMPTON                           LENGTH:   22 lines

RESCUE EFFORTS FAIL TO REVIVE DROWNED BABY

A 6-month-old girl who was discovered face-down in a bathtub died Sunday despite the efforts of her mother, paramedics and hospital staff to revive her.

Police said Chelsea Alexis Johnson of the 800 block of LaSalle Ave. was pronounced dead at Sentara Hampton General Hospital at 2:19 p.m.

Police and rescue personnel were called to the home about 1:30 p.m.

Police said the mother had been bathing the infant and a 2-year-old sibling when she was briefly distracted and left the bathroom. When she returned a few moments later, she found the infant face-down in the water.

She began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pausing long enough to dial 911, police said. Paramedics arrived three minutes after the call and continued CPR as they took the child to the hospital. But all efforts to revive her failed.

The police investigation is continuing. No charges have been filed. KEYWORDS: DROWNING

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