What a sad incident!
There was one time that we were in the mall and my husband was suppose to be watching my then 2 year old daughter while he was ordering lunch in the food court. I was at the table with our newborn waiting for them. My husband was walking back and I did not see my daughter and I literally flipped out, in a heartbeat. I threw the bottle on the floor and grabbed the carseat that my baby was strapped into. I took off toward my husband (also knocking chairs down as I got up) and then saw my daughter peaking out from behind him (made me mad that my hubby wasn't walking with her because she was so little, but I was relieved to see her). Long story short....I had actually splashed all of the people around me with this bottle. I am not sure what happened with this particular mom, but I do know what that EXTREME moment of panic feels like. You want your hands immediately freed so that you can take off toward your child!