In Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County, a heartbreaking incident is under investigation after a 5-year-old boy tragically lost his life, possibly from drowning in a backyard swimming pool. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shared details of the incident, which happened late Sunday night.
Deputies received a 911 call around 10:30 p.m. from the 16000 block of Sigman Street near Stimson Avenue. The call reported that a young boy was not breathing. Emergency responders arrived quickly, and paramedics performed CPR before rushing him to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, despite their efforts, the boy passed away from his injuries.
Authorities believe this may have been a drowning accident. The mother was reportedly at home at the time with her two children. It was the boy’s little sister who first noticed her brother in the pool and ran to alert their mom.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives were present at the scene, but this does not necessarily indicate any foul play. Based on initial findings, investigators think this was likely a tragic accident, though the investigation is still ongoing.
Drownings like this are devastatingly common. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 371 children drown each year in pools and spas. This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the importance of pool safety, especially when young children are around.
For now, the community mourns this unimaginable loss as investigators continue to piece together what happened.
