Jacksonville police: Toddler drowns off San Juan Avenue

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says a toddler drowned in an above ground pool off San Juan Avenue this afternoon.

Police and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department were sent out to the scene around 2:20 p.m.

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Neighbors tell Action News Jax the boy was visiting his grandmother.

One of those neighbors, Arthur Martin, a security officer and father, says he performed CPR on the child until first responders arrived.

He says he heard screams as he prepared lunch for his children, so he ran outside to find a man holding the child’s body in the pool next door.

“I said, ‘I know CPR,' and I just jumped into action and started doing what I was taught,” Martin said.

The child was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

We wanted to know more about the laws surrounding above ground pools in Florida.

Florida Statute 515.29 (d)(2) sets barrier requirements for residential swimming pools.

“The structure of an above ground swimming pool may be used as its barrier or the barrier for such a pool may be mounted on top of its structure,” it states. “However, such structure or separately mounted barrier must meet all barrier requirements of this section. In addition, any ladder or steps that are the means of access to an above ground pool must be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent access or must be surrounded by a barrier that meets the requirements of this section.”

We reached out to police and asked if the ladder leading into the above ground pool in this case met state requirements.

“The investigation is active and ongoing,” said JSO spokesperson Melissa Bujeda. “Besides what was released at the scene by the sergeant, there is nothing further to release at this time.  If something new becomes releasable, it will be sent to everyone.”

As the community mourns, Martin has this warning for parents tonight:

“Parents, pay close attention to your children if you have pools around,” he said. “We all know if you have children how quick things can happen.”

Original Story:

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it is investigating after a toddler drowned off of San Juan Avenue west of Cassat Avenue.

Neighbors tell Action News Jax the child is a little boy.

An Action News Jax crew in the area sees that a home has crime scene tape around it.

We are working to get more information on the investigation.

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Cox Media Group