Watertown first responders get counseling after 4-year-old’s death in farm equipment accident – Hartford Courant

First responders who were unable to save the life of a 4-year-old girl who was trapped under bladed farm equipment in Watertown over the weekend have undergone counseling, town officials said.

“The Watertown Police Department takes the mental wellness of our personnel very seriously,” Police Chief Joshua Bernegger said Monday during a news conference. “As such, all Watertown Police Department personnel who were involved in Saturday’s tragic incident have participated in a structured, critical incident stress debriefing this morning with licensed clinicians, clergy, our department’s peer support team and our comfort dog.” Continued mental health assistance will be available through the town’s Employee Assistance Program, he said.

Town Manager Mark A, Raimo said firefighters also participated in the debriefing.

“This is a difficult tragedy to have been involved in,” Raimo said, addressing the first responders. “Please take comfort in knowing that we care about you and you are supported.”

Bernegger called Ellie Kuslis’ death “horrific and tragic” and “an unimaginable tragedy.” He added, “As difficult as this tragedy is for our responders, it pales in comparison to the grief and heartbreak being experienced by the Kuslis family. The loss of one’s child is the ultimate tragedy. We want the Kuslis family to know that the Watertown Police Department, along with the entire Watertown and Oakville community, grieves the loss of Ellie with you.”

Ellie Kuslis was fatally injured Saturday afternoon by a slice seeder that was attached to a tractor her father had been operating on their farm. A slice seeder is a machine that uses blades to cut deep grooves into the soil into which seeds are dropped.

[ Police release name of 4-year-old girl who died in Watertown farm accident ]

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The accident happened about 3:20 p.m. after Ellie’s father had stopped the tractor. He was working on the equipment as the seeder remained engaged, Det. Mark Conway said.

Despite the efforts of neighbors and first responders, the girl died at the scene.

During an autopsy Sunday, medical examiners determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma and ruled the death an accident, police said. Police said they continue to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident.

[ Child, 4, dies after becoming entangled in farm machinery in Watertown ]

Even at her young age, the girl appears to have played a role at the farm. The Kuslis Farm Facebook page Monday morning had a picture of more than a dozen cartons of eggs under a blackboard-style sign that read, “Eggs for Ellie, $3.”

The Monday morning post asked for privacy, adding, “But Ellie would like these to be shared and enjoyed.”

The post was later taken down.

Christine Dempsey may be reached at [email protected].