HARRIS COUNTY, Tx – A family visit ended in tragedy Sunday evening after a 2-year-old child and a 74-year-old relative died following an apparent drowning in a north Harris County neighborhood pond, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded around 6 p.m. to the 900 block of Spring Lakes Haven after a caller reported an adult and child had drowned.
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When deputies arrived, firefighters and EMS crews were performing life-saving measures on the elderly woman near the pond. A short time later, first responders found the 2-year-old child in the water, pulled him to shore and began CPR, officials said.
Both were taken to area hospitals with CPR in progress. They were later pronounced dead.
Investigators said the child’s mother had brought him to visit the 74-year-old relative who lived in the neighborhood. At some point, officials said, the child became bored, and the relative told the mother she was going to take him to a neighborhood park.
After some time passed and the mother had not heard from them, she became concerned and went looking for them.
Officials said the mother walked up to the pond and saw EMS performing CPR on her relative. Moments later, her child was pulled from the water.
“She is naturally very distraught,” Major Ben Katrib with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. “Our approach is trauma-informed, so we need to allow her the time before we interview her.”
Katrib said the information is preliminary and the investigation is still in its early stages. Investigators are canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance cameras and speaking with witnesses who may have seen what happened.
The sheriff’s office said the child’s mother indicated the toddler may have been autistic.
A neighbor, Agha Hussain, said the neighborhood is typically quiet and he was shocked to learn what happened.
“It’s a very heartbreaking thing,” Hussain said. “Never happened before over here.”
Hussain said he often walks near the pond and believes more safety measures may be needed.
“They should have some kind of safety for the children,” Hussain said.
Katrib also urged families to be especially careful around water during the summer months.
“Anything can happen in the blink of an eye,” Katrib said. “Children should be supervised at all times.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.