A family in Plantation, Florida, is grieving after a two year old boy was found dead in a pond at an apartment complex, according to CBS News. The loss has shaken both relatives and neighbors in the community, where the water feature sits within easy reach of the homes where families live.
According to the account pieced together by authorities, the child was first reported missing by his grandmother on the previous evening. She called for help at around 5:30 p.m., setting off a search for the young boy in and around the apartment complex where the family lives.
A short time after the alarm was raised, a family member found the boy in the water of the pond. The discovery turned the frantic search into an emergency, as those nearby rushed to try to help the child and to summon medical assistance to the scene as quickly as possible.
Bystanders stepped in immediately, beginning CPR on the boy in an effort to revive him while they waited for professional help. They continued those efforts until fire rescue crews arrived and took over the emergency response at the water's edge.
The boy was then rushed to a hospital. Despite the efforts of the bystanders and emergency responders, he did not survive and was pronounced dead at the hospital, leaving his family and those who tried to save him devastated by the outcome.
According to the dispatcher who handled the emergency call, the child was nonverbal and was known to be drawn toward the water. That detail has added to the anguish surrounding the case, underscoring how quickly a young child can reach a body of water in a residential setting.
Neighbors expressed shock at the tragedy, with one saying there had never been a safety concern about the pond before. Residents noted how common lakes and ponds are throughout South Florida, a reality that many rarely stop to think about until an incident like this brings the risk into sharp focus.