Tragic drownings in local pools and retention ponds continue to plague the area, with a concerning number of incidents involving both children and the elderly.
According to the , so far this year, 97 children statewide have died from drowning this year. WINK Investigates examined local data too:
Collier: 1 child drown in a retention pondCharlotte: 1 child drown in a retention pondLee: 3 children drown in a poolDesoto: 1 child drown in a poolGlades: 0 drowningsHendry: 0 drownings
Southwest Floridian, Samantha Begle, nearly lost her son to drowning. Begle shared her terrifying experience with WINK Investigates.
Her son, who has autism, was two-year-old at the time. “Our whole life changed that night,” said Begle.
During a family gathering, Begle’s son was found face down in a pool and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. She explained it took 30 seconds to realize he was missing. He had climbed through a doggy door and ended up in the pool.
“Seeing your kid unconscious, seeing everyone trying to work, he was Code Blue when he got to the hospital,” said Begle. “He wasn’t breathing.”
Her son spent two days in the hospital and has since recovered. He spends lots of time in the pool since learning how to swim.
According to the “children with autism are 160 times as likely to die from drowning.”
WINK Investigates after a tragic incident in July where a five-year-old child with autism drowned in a retention pond near his home in Collier County.
The family had just moved into their new apartment at The Everly the day before, and were unpacking. That’s when Jaylen’s mother says she realized he was missing, .
“In my own experience, believe that something needs to be done. There’s way too many, you know, open bodies of water and too many children and elderly that are getting into these bodies of water and drowning,” said Begle.
Florida Representative of Miami, who is also a firefighter, told WINK Investigates back in August, he is determined to prevent such tragedies.
“It’s difficult to hear of these tragic stories that happen,” said Blanco. “I’ve been in my career as a firefighter, I’ve seen it one too many times.”
Blanco proposed the during the last legislative session. The act aimed to require alarmed access gates for pools and retention ponds as part of standard safety equipment.
It would’ve also required residential properties to install alarms on doorways leading to pool entrances.
“The thought behind it was, if you have pool or retention ponds, the access gates to that must have an alarm,” said Blanco. “If a child with autism wanders off to this body of water, your gates are locked and functioning as they should be. More importantly, if there is a bypass, there’s an alarm that goes off and activates, just like a fire alarm.”
Although the bill did not pass in June, Blanco plans to revamp it for the next session with stronger measures.
“We’re going to come back again twice as strong,” said Blanco. “There should be no additional fees. It should just be part of the overall safety plan of the location to make sure that all their community is safe.”
Several families who have lost loved ones to drowning have expressed their support for the bill.
WINK Investigates will keep up with the bills progress once it is filed.