2-year-old boy drowns after leaving Fort Pierce home unnoticed, police say

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A 2-year-old boy died after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a Fort Pierce home, according to police.

The Fort Pierce Police Department said its officers responded just before 2:45 p.m. on June 6 to a home on Citrus Avenue following reports of a possible drowning. A preliminary investigation found that while family members were inside the residence, the child was able to unlock a door and leave the home without being noticed.

When family members realized the child was missing, they began searching the property and found the child unresponsive in a pool, police said. Relatives immediately began administering first aid until officers arrived and took over life-saving efforts.

See also: VIDEO: 5-year-old rescued from hotel pool graduates kindergarten days after near-drowning

The child was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Despite those efforts, the child later died from his injuries, FPPD said.

The incident remains under investigation, police say.

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Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for young children, particularly in residential pools. Safety experts went on ARC Florida to recommend layers of protection, including constant supervision, self-latching gates around pools, door alarms, and teaching children basic water safety skills as early as possible.