The family of a 14-year-old boy who drowned in a Florida City lake last month is now speaking out, hoping that their loss can push for changes that keep other children safe. The mother of Marcus Sanders has come forward to share what happened and to press for stronger safeguards.
According to the family, the tragedy unfolded on June 27, when Marcus and others went out and ended up at a lake nearby, near North Redland Road and Northwest 12th Street in Florida City. It was there, in that body of water, that the day turned into a nightmare for the family.
His mother says she received a call that her son was unresponsive after going into the lake, and that he later died. She noted that Marcus knew how to swim, a detail that has only deepened the family's search for answers about how the drowning happened.
The lake sits in an area that is being quickly developed, and the family's attorney argues that the tragedy could have been prevented. According to the lawyer, a developer, the utility company and the property owner did not take the proper steps to keep people away from the water.
The family points to the absence of basic safeguards at the site, such as a gate or signs warning that people were not supposed to be there. They believe that as Florida City grows, higher safety requirements are needed to match the pace of new development.
Relatives remember Marcus as an incredibly smart young man, very respectful and a protector of his siblings. They say he had just graduated eighth grade and leaves behind seven brothers and sisters, his parents, his grandmother and many others who loved him.
For the family, the focus now is on making sure the same thing does not happen to another child. His mother says losing a child to a drowning that she believes could have been prevented is a pain she does not want any other family to have to endure.