3-year-old drowns in Fort Bend County

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - A 3-year-old has drowned in Fort Bend County. 

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said a family was grilling out and enjoying a pool day at The Enclave Apartments in Sugarland when within a matter of minutes, the 3-year-old boy was nowhere to be seen.

“They had the floaties, but once you take those floaties off, you have to constantly keep your eye on them. Somebody has to be assigned to that child,” Nehls said.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday, Nehls said investigators were called to the apartments on the 15000 block of West Airport Blvd. The boy was unresponsive when first responders arrived.

“The cameras show that the boy exited the pool and he had the float devices on his arms and he had a little floatation device around his waist,” Nehls said.

Nehls said a relative then took the floaties off the boy so he could enjoy a meal with his family during their cook out.

“A few minutes later, video shows the child going back over to the other side of the pool and sitting down on the side of the pool, at which time he slid into the water,” Nehls said.

The child was apparently underwater for several minutes before the father jumped in to retrieve him and perform CPR, according to Nehls. The boy was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.

The incident marks the third drowning death this week.

On Memorial Day, Harris County Sheriff’s deputies responded to two separate drowning incidents involving two-year-old girls. Both died at the hospital later in the week.

“I said to Sheriff Gonzales, ‘are we doing something wrong here?’ I mean, are we not educating the public? Informing the public? Is it a financial issue?” Nehls said.

Authorities are urging parents to be aware of their children during outdoor water activites. Two seperate toddlers have died since Memorial Day weekend after being found unresponsive in the water.

Always pay attention to young children in the water, and never leave them unattended. 

For free swimming lessons, visit https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/pools.html.