Father Saves Baby Found in Walker at Bottom of Pool

A father's quick response helped save the life of his 11-month-old son after the child fell into the family pool in Palm Harbor Wednesday.

The accident happened just before noon at a home at 3699 Chatham Drive, according to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Spokesperson Liz Monforti.

Family members say the boy was in his walker while his father and grandfather were watching television inside the home. They say at some point, the family dog pushed open a screen door and the boy followed the dog onto the deck. The walker appeared to have rolled off the deck and the child and the walker fell into the pool.

The father had not heard from the child, so he got up to check on the boy and saw the boy in the walker at the bottom of the pool. The father jumped in the water and pulled his son out. The boy was blue and did not have a pulse when he was pulled from the water, however the father began CPR. 

When firefighters arrived, the boy was responsive and crying. They then transported him to Meese Countryside Hospital. The incident appears to initially have had a positive outcome, according to Monforti. 

It is not known how long the boy was in the water.

The boy, whose name was not released, is in one of the highest risk groups for drowning.

"Statistics show that males under the age of five are at the highest risk for drowning," says Monforti. 

She recommends that parents and caregivers learn more about preventing pool accidents by implementing the Five Layers of Pool Safety (see accompanying pdf). 

Monforti says homeowners can also contact Florida Safe Pools to request a free door alarm.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will follow up with the case.

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