Manatee Toddler Drowns In Pond

PALMETTO, FL — A Manatee County toddler drowned in a pond Thursday behind his family's home in the 8800 block of Founders Circle, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

First responders attempted to resuscitate the child for about 20 minutes after he was found floating in the pond around 1:30 p.m.

"The boy was unresponsive as family members pulled him from the water," the sheriff's office said. The two-and-a-half-year-old was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m.

Sheriff's deputies, fire and emergency management services personnel performed CPR on the boy. He was not immediately identified by the sheriff's office.

"The child’s mother, grandmother and other siblings say they were doing things around the home when they lost track of the boy," the sheriff's office said.