Unintentional drowning is one of the most alarming cases of death one can experience. When it is an unattended child who walks into a pool and drowns, it is a nightmare for every parent.
People reported an incident via Southwest Florida authorities that a 2-year-old boy has died after drowning in the pool of a family member. Miami-Dade Police Department released a statement on the matter, which was obtained by People, that the incident occurred at a home in the 14300 block of Southwest 170th Terrace in Miami around 10 a.m. local time. Detective Andre Martin from Miami-Dade reported to FOX affiliate WSVN that a family member went to check on the toddler, only to not find him where he should have been.
According to ABC affiliate WPLG, in a statement obtained by People, the family member reportedly found the missing child in the pool and soon discovered that he was unresponsive when he was being pulled out of the water. According to the MDPD, officers observed the unresponsive toddler upon arriving at the scene and “immediately began resuscitative efforts until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel landed on the scene.” The authorities then airlifted the child to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he was unfortunately declared dead.
NBC affiliate WTVJ obtained information from a family friend of the boy that his name was Santiago and that his family is from Cuba. She said, “I can’t believe it,” adding, “I don’t know what happened, but I do know that they are amazing parents and grandparents—an excellent family.”
Additionally, People reports via authorities that the child “may have exited through not one, but two barriers and made his way out to this pool,” adding, “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare,” concluding the statement with, “This looks like a very, very tragic accident.”