Milton Morrison believes it was nothing short of a mother's dying devotion for her child that prompted his girlfriend's brave attempt to save her son from drowning.

Although Donnette Fowler would lose her life in an attempt to save seven-year-old Jauntae Morrison, the child's father said her her final action was characteristic of her love.

It was traditional for Donnette, a resident of Ebony Vale in Spanish Town, St Catherine, to take the children to work with her every summer and they would use the pool on these occasions.

Donnette, a domestic helper at a house on Millsborough Avenue in upper St Andrew, had brought Jauntae, his five-year-old sister and the 13-year-old son of a family friend to work on Monday.

Recalling his last morning with his girlfriend and son, Morrison said she told him she was going and would see him later. Little did he know that would be the last time he would see her and his son alive.

"I was at home when I got the call that Jauntae is in the pool and is not coming out and Donnette went into the pool and is not coming out," said Morrison of the frantic call he received from his friend's son.

" I told him to come straight with me, and he said it look like they drowned. I told him to call the police and that I am on my way."

Slipped

Morrison said he learned that while in the pool, Jauntae stepped into the deep end. Unable to swim, he cried for help and, alerted by her five-year-old daughter, Donnette ran to the pool but slipped on her way into the water, hitting her head. With hands still reaching for her son, she went under the water.

"None of them could swim. She always put on life jackets on them," said Morrison. She was putting the jacket on his sister when Jauntae sneaked away and went into the pool.

"She was a very good mother, protective and caring of the children," Morrison recalled.

Seated in his living room surrounded by nieces, sisters and his mother, the 44-year-old father scanned through the family album, pointing to pictures of his son.

He was concerned for his daughter, who he believes might be traumatised because she saw everything that happened.

He said that when he tried to explain to her that her mother and brother were not coming home, he broke down in tears.

"I miss them so much," Morrison said, holding down his head as he tried to hold back the tears.

'I was at home when I got the call that Jauntae is in the pool and is not coming out and Donnette went into the pool and is not coming out.' - Morrison