Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
Officials said two toddlers nearly drowned in Clearwater over the weekend.
On Saturday, a 1-year-old boy was found face down in a 55-gallon drum of water, according to reports. The incident occurred sometime after 6 p.m. Saturday at a home located in the 2500 block of Highland Acres Drive.
According to investigators, the child was with his father in the backyard of the home. The boy wandered off while his father was working in the backyard and when the dad noticed the child was gone, he went to look for him.
The father found the baby face-down in the water, and he pulled his son from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
Dunedin Fire Rescue said the boy had a pulse and was breathing when they arrived. He was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital for life-threatening injuries.
Investigators believe the drum of water was partially buried in the ground and being used as a tilapia farm.
Second Toddler Found in Clearwater Pool
Police also reported that a 2-year-old boy was found in a backyard pool Sunday morning.
The incident happened at 10:30 a.m. at a house in the 2000 block of Buford Boulevard.
Police said that family members pulled the boy from the pool and administered CPR until Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews arrived. The firefighters were able to regain a heartbeat before taking him to Mease Countryside Hospital.
The toddler was later flown to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition.
Officials believe several people were at the house at the time of the incident. They think the child was in the pool for less than five minutes.
Private pools pose the greatest risks for drowning, especially for children that are too young to know how to swim. This is why it is critical for parents to accompany their kids when poolside or in the water at all times to prevent tragedies. At Whittel & Melton, our Tampa Bay Swimming Pool Accident Lawyers understand that no one can be completely vigilant 100 percent of the time. However, this is why restricting access to swimming pools as much as possible is essential. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a four-foot-high fence with a locking gate that should run around the entire perimeter of any backyard pool, at minimum. Unfortunately, builders and homeowners often fail to include this safety feature because a fence would ruin the look of a deck, patio or yard.
A Clearwater Swimming Pool & Drowning Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you determine who is at fault after a tragic accident leaves you or a loved one suffering severe injuries or death. Call us today at 727-823-0000 for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights and how best to proceed.