Saving lives: The fight against drownings in Florida | Investigations

Drownings in local pools and retention ponds have impacted the Southwest Florida area, with a concerning number of incidents involving both children and the elderly. 

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, so far this year, 97 children statewide have died from drowning. WINK Investigates examined local data as well: 

Collier: One child drowned in a retention pond

Charlotte: One child drowned in a retention pond

Lee: Three children drowned in a pool

Desoto: One child drowned in a pool

Glades: Zero drownings

Hendry: Zero drownings

Southwest Floridian Samantha Begle shared her story with WINK Investigates about her experience of nearly losing her then 2-year-old child with autism due to drowning.

 “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. Now, he spends plenty of time in the pool since learning how to swim. 

According to the National Autism Association, “children with autism are 160 times as likely to die from drowning.”

In July, a 5-year-old child with autism drowned in a retention pond near his home in Collier County. The incident prompted the WINK Investigates team to find solutions to help prevent future incidents.

According to the family, they had moved into their new apartment at The Everly the day before the incident and were in the process of unpacking. The 5-year-old then managed to wander away from their supervision, prompting the 911 call she placed to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

“In my own experience, I believe that something needs to be done. There are 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 Omar Blanco, a Miami resident and firefighter, told WINK Investigates back in August that he is determined to prevent future drownings.

“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 Multihousing Water Safety Act 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 the entire community is safe.”

WINK Investigates will continue to pursue the bill’s progress once it is filed. 

Lawmakers determined to make change in drowning deaths