After a 5-year-old boy drowned Wednesday at Port Aransas Beach, one of South Texas most popular coastal destinations, local authorities are reminding visitors to practice water safety.
The boy was visiting the beach with his grandparents and was swimming near beach mile marker 45 when the drowning occurred, KRIS 6 News reported. According to the station, his grandparents lost sight of the boy for only a few minutes before he was pulled from the water.
A Port Aransas police officer, a Texas game warden and a lifeguard performed CPR and other life-saving measures until Emergency Medical Services arrived.
The boy was then taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
After the drowning, Port Aransas police Lt. Mike Hannon urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant when supervising children at the beach, warning that water conditions can change quickly.
“You can’t see what is under the water, and the water can get deep quickly, especially for small children,” Hannon said.
Hannon also encouraged parents to keep children within arm’s reach near the water, know their swimming abilities and use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when appropriate.
As of Thursday, the Port Aransas Police Department was continuing to investigate the drowning.