1-year-old boy drowns in pool after family dog opens back door, SC officials say
A 1-year-old boy drowned in a pool after his family’s dog opened the back door to their South Carolina home, officials said.
Family members were asleep when the child slipped outside early Saturday, July 29. The boy’s father later found him in an above-ground pool and pulled him from the water, according to the Anderson County coroner’s office.
The boy, identified in a news release as 18-month-old Josue Hernandez, was given CPR at the scene. First responders rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
As of July 29, several agencies were investigating Josue’s death. He drowned outside a house in Williamston, roughly 20 miles south of Greenville.
“The investigation indicates the child died due to freshwater drowning and there appears to be no indication of foul play,” the coroner’s office wrote. “The investigation further indicates that a rear door to the residence was unintentionally opened by the family dog allowing the child to exit the residence and enter the pool.”
Drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published July 31, 2023 at 11:23 AM with the headline "1-year-old boy drowns in pool after family dog opens back door, SC officials say."
