22-Month-Old Toddler Found Dead in Pond Just 30 Minutes After He Vanished from Family Home
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation following the incident in Louisiana on Sunday, April 26
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NEED TO KNOW
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A missing toddler was found in a neighborhood pond around 30 minutes after he first went missing in Louisiana
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Despite life-saving measures, the 22-month-old boy died at a local area hospital
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Sheriff Gerald Sticker has shared drowning prevention tips following the incident
A toddler was found dead within minutes of wandering off from his family’s Louisiana home.
At around 7 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 26, emergency personnel received reports that a child from the town of Iowa had vanished from a home on Bradley Court in Loranger during a family visit, according to a news release from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO).
The 22-month-old boy had been missing for around 30 minutes when the family called 911 again to inform them that the child had been found in the neighborhood pond behind the property.
Credit: Getty
CPR attempts were made before the TPSO deputies and firefighters arrived at the scene, according to the TPSO news release.
First responders took over life-saving measures before the toddler was transported to an area hospital.
The young boy, who has not been publicly identified, died in the drowning incident. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the child's death.
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Credit: Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office/Facebook
In the TPSO news release, Sheriff Gerald Sticker asked the public to join him in prayer for the family while also sharing his drowning prevention tips.
“The TPSO advises always securing exterior doors with door handle covers or other safety-type locks as well as entry/exit alerts or alarms,” said Sticker. “It is also recommended to have young children start traditional swimming lessons, or survival swim classes, as early as six months old.
“Lastly, everyone is encouraged to receive CPR training, often offered for free, through various community organizations like the American Red Cross," he concluded.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment regarding the toddler’s drowning.
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