Tucson Police are investigating the drowning of a 7-year-old boy that took place Thursday in Midtown.
According to TPD, officers arrived at the boy's home after his mother reported him missing.
Officers began to search the home and located the home's in-ground swimming pool in the backyard.
TPD says that the water was dark green and murky and officers could not see the bottom. They then began to skim the bottom of the pool with a pole they found in the backyard.
The boy was located under water and was immediately pulled from water and CPR was performed. The child was transported to a local hospital but passed away shortly after arriving.
The pool did not have a four-sided barrier around it.
Detectives from the Child Physical Abuse Unit are continuing the investigation. No charges have been issued at this time.
The Tucson Police Department wants to remind the community to take precaution if you live near a pool or body of water.
- Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention.
- If multiple adults are around when children are swimming, identify a specific adult in charge of watching them.
- If you own a pool (in-ground or above ground), make sure it has a four-sided barrier/fence (at least 4 feet high) with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- Remove steps/ladder when not using an above ground pool.
- Teach your children at an early age how to swim, float and tread water.
- Educate your children. Teach them to never go in or near water without an adult present.
- Take the time to learn CPR. There are many classes available for free or at minimal cost.
- If your pool becomes unusable (dirty/murky water) and you are unable to fix it right away, drain the pool so that it does not become a hazard.
- Consider putting door alarms on pool gates and doors that lead to backyards.
- No one should swim alone – even adults. Accidents can happen, so a second person should always be near.
