2-year-old drowns in canal at Bradenton apartments while parents were home, police say
A 2-year-old boy drowned in a canal in Bradenton apartment complex on Friday morning, just steps from the building where his family lives.
The toddler’s parents were home at the time, but police don’t know how he got outside.
At 10:31 a.m., police got a 911 call from a man who spotted the boy in the canal in the 4000 block of Carlton Inlet Drive in VIEW Carlton Arms Apartments and pulled him out, according to police spokeswoman Meredith Frameli. Paramedics were first on scene and declared the boy dead.
The 2-year-old boy has been identified but police have not named him citing Florida’s Marsy’s Law.
Police arrived moments later and found the boy’s parents home.
Now detectives are trying to piece together the circumstances that led up to the boy’s drowning by interviewing witnesses and family.
“We don’t know how the child got out of the building, if he was already outside, Frameli said. “I don’t know how long the child was in the water.”
The child’s death serves as a safety reminder for all parents.
“Any amount of time, no matter how short, can be deadly when children are involved and water is involved. This is something that can happen in a matter of minutes,” Frameli said. “We just want people to be hyper-vigilant, especially on a holiday weekend.”
This is the second child to drown in Manatee County this year, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families Child Fatalities database. On March 26, a 3-year-old child drowned in the family’s swimming pool.
Statewide there have been 36 children who have drowned this year.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call Detective Dalia Santana at 941-932-9355. Information can also be emailed at bpdtips@bradentonpd.com.
Or to remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or online at manateecrimestoppers.com.
