Martin County, Florida is reeling after two separate but eerily similar drowning incidents claimed the lives of two young children within just 24 hours. On June 14, a 5-year-old boy drowned in a neighbor’s swimming pool in Stuart. Just the day before, a 2-year-old girl lost her life in a drowning accident at her family’s home in Hobe Sound.
Both children were taken to Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital, but tragically, medical efforts were unsuccessful in reviving either of them. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office, first responders, and hospital staff who tried to save the children were the same personnel on duty for both devastating incidents.
Sheriff John Budensiek expressed sorrow and deep concern over the back-to-back tragedies. “This is a tragic day in Martin County,” he said. “Unfortunately, both children have passed away.”
In the most recent case, the 5-year-old boy had been playing inside his family’s duplex home on Hawthorne Street while his mother bathed a younger sibling. When she noticed he was missing, the search led her to the neighboring unit’s swimming pool, where the boy was found unresponsive. It is unclear who removed him from the water.
Deputies were dispatched to the scene around 7:45 p.m. The child was transported to the hospital but could not be revived.
Just one day earlier, deputies responded to a 911 call at 7:15 p.m. on Mars Street in Hobe Sound. A 2-year-old girl had been swimming in the family’s backyard pool along with two other children. Although the toddler had worn a flotation device earlier in the evening, authorities believe she removed it herself and re-entered the water unnoticed.
Four adults, including her parents, were present in the home at the time, intermittently supervising the children near the patio pool area. Despite immediate efforts by Martin County Fire Rescue, the child was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m.
These twin tragedies are painful reminders that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children aged 1 to 4 in the United States. The silent and rapid nature of drowning makes it especially dangerous — a child can slip beneath the water in under 30 seconds, and unlike in the movies, there is rarely splashing or yelling to alert adults.
In both Martin County cases, multiple adults were nearby or in the home, highlighting that proximity alone does not equal supervision. Sheriff Budensiek issued a heartfelt plea to parents and caregivers everywhere: “Make sure your pools are secure. Don’t take for granted that your child knows how to swim. Don’t take for granted that flotation devices are working.”
While no amount of preparation can guarantee complete safety, drowning prevention experts stress the importance of multiple layers of protection:
Pool barriers: Install fences at least four feet high around all four sides of the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Alarms: Use door alarms, gate alarms, and pool alarms to alert adults when children access the area.
Constant supervision: Always assign a designated adult “water watcher” whose only job is to watch the pool without distraction.
Swimming lessons: Enroll children in swim lessons early and make water safety a part of family education.
CPR training: All caregivers should be trained in CPR, which can save lives in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.
In many tragic drowning cases, negligence or lack of safety measures may open the door to legal accountability. Even in accidents, property owners can be held liable if pools are not properly secured, access points are left open, or supervision is deemed inadequate.
Legal action in the form of a wrongful death or premises liability claim may help grieving families seek justice and financial support for medical expenses, funeral costs, and emotional suffering.
These cases also serve a broader purpose: by holding negligent parties accountable, families can help drive change and raise awareness that may save other children's lives in the future.
At Aquatic Attorneys, we understand the deep grief and urgent need for answers that follow a child’s drowning. Led by nationally recognized trial lawyer Michael Haggard, Esq., our firm has a long history of representing families who have experienced unthinkable loss due to unsafe pool environments and inadequate safety measures.
We offer compassionate legal representation while pursuing maximum accountability for all responsible parties. If your family has suffered the loss of a child due to a pool accident, you are not alone. We are here to help you take the first step toward justice and healing.
Contact Aquatic Attorneys today for a free, confidential consultation. Let us help you honor your child’s memory by fighting to prevent another tragedy.
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