2-Year-Old Drowns in Pool at Jacksonville Home

A 2-year-old boy drowned Saturday afternoon after he wandered into the pool at his Westside home, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The boy’s father and stepmother were with him at the home.

The boy’s father went to check on the boy Saturday afternoon, thinking the toddler was asleep in his room. When he wasn’t there, the father looked for him and found the boy in the backyard pool, quickly pulling him out and beginning CPR.

When firefighters arrived, they continued CPR and took the boy to Orange Park Medical Center, where he died.

Police said the in-ground pool was gated and there were several obstacles to the child getting to the pool, but they were ones the toddler could get through, like a screen door.

There have been 43 reported drownings over the last six years reported to the Department of Children and Families since 2012 in Jacksonville.

Police are investigating the incident, but no foul play is suspected. The Department of Children and Families will be notified.

There are approximately 3,300 drowning deaths per year, according to a report by the CDC. That means there are an alarming 10 deaths per day nationwide. One in five of these drowning deaths involve a child. Tragically, almost all drowning deaths in swimming pools are the result of negligence and are entirely preventable.

There are many facets of negligence that may exist in swimming pool drowning accidents. Swimming pool accidents are almost always preventable and caused, at least in some part, by negligence. Following the tragedy of losing a child, filing a suit may not seem proper to the grieving parent. While one cannot place a value on the life of a loved one, these steps are critical in preventing a drowning recurrence to another child. Call our Florida Swimming Pool Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton today at 866-608-5529 for a free consultation or contact us online.