Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
A child was hospitalized after being resuscitated Sunday from a near-drowning incident at a Fort Lauderdale pool, according to media.
First responders were called out to 6001 NW 6th Way, an Extended Stay America, for a call about a drowning. Paramedics performed CPR on the minor and the child was said to be alert and breathing when he was transferred to the Broward Health Medical Center.
Additional information, including how this happened and how old the child is, were not immediately available Monday.
This comes after at least three other drowning incidents in the state over the weekend.
Other Drowning Incidents
A 5-year-old boy died Saturday after drowning in the backyard pool of a home in Stuart, Florida. The child in that case allegedly snuck out of the family’s duplex while his mother was giving his sibling a bath. He was found at the bottom of a neighbor’s swimming pool.
He was taken to the Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital where he later died.
Friday night in Hobe Sound, a family tragically lost their 2-year-old daughter after she drowned in the pool.
In Central Florida Friday morning, deputies were called out for a drowning near the Westgate Villas Resort, close to Central Florida theme parks and other resorts. When they arrived, they found that a child had accidentally drowned in a pond on the property. The child was rushed to a local hospital but died.
Police say the child was in the area while on vacation with family.
Additional details regarding these incidents were not immediately available Monday.
Data from the Florida Department of Health shows that approximately enough children under the age of 5 years old drown in the state every year to fill several classrooms. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 years old, according to the Safe Children Coalition, an organization dedicated to promoting education and awareness surrounding this pressing issue.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with more than 48 years of experience across various practice areas in Florida, including premises liability and drowning cases. There were about 60 drowning deaths in the state for the first half of 2024, according to the latest available data. Of the 60 people who tragically lost their lives, about 46 of them were children.
Previous Cases
Childhood drowning remains a critical concern in Florida, a state that draws millions of tourists each year. Among them, nearly 5 million make their way to Key West—home to one of Leesfield & Partners’ three offices, located on historic Whitehead Street. As summer nears and visitors begin their annual return, Leesfield & Partners recognizes the vital importance of drowning prevention strategies: swim instruction, secure pool environments and constant supervision of young children.
Tragically, for some families, these precautions come too late — turning what should be a joyful vacation into a devastating and preventable loss.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a historic settlement in a case involving a swimming pool incident at a Hotel Resort Orlando in Osceola County. In that case, our client’s son was swimming when he was caught in the suction of the pool’s drain. The child could not be removed because the hotel failed to have an emergency shut off switch.
For nearly 10 minutes, our client’s child remained underwater. As a result, he was later diagnosed with brain damage that would require life-long medical care. This case, which was handled by Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, is the largest result of its kind in Osceola County.
One family was forever changed when a father and husband lost his wife and two young daughters due to the U.S. Navy’s failure to maintain its pier in a safe condition.
“Ivan Grayson, tormented by the mind-numbing horror of the tragedy that wiped his family from the face of the earth, desperately needs to know why this happened,” U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King said of the case.
Grayson was awarded $2.95 million for the loss of his family.
Previously, the firm secured a seven-figure settlement for a family whose toddler drowned in South Florida. In that case, an inadequately installed child safety fence around the pool was found at the home.
Previously, the firm secured a $575,000 settlement in the drowning death of a man against a Florida boat tour company.
Safety Tips
While no amount of preparation or safety equipment can fully protect a family from tragedy, being informed and ready to act in an emergency can significantly reduce response time — and may even save lives.
As summer vacation approaches and more children spend time in and around the water, it’s important for parents and guardians to review essential safety practices in advance.
Below are several key tips to help keep your family safe. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. For the most up-to-date information, please consult your local safety organizations or swim safety authorities.
Keep toys away from the pool when not in use to prevent children from falling into the water when potentially trying to reach for them.
- Always completely remove a pool cover before jumping in to use the pool.
- Make sure all external doors leading to a pool area or body of water like a lake or ocean are equipped with proper locks and alarms that way, even if a child manages to unlock the door, you will know that it has been opened.
- Dress children in brightly colored swimsuits so that, if the unthinkable happens, they are easier to spot in the water.
- Never leave a child unattended near a body of water.
- Children who cannot swim should always wear a life vest and be in the water with an adult.
- All pools should be equipped with child safety fences and locks.
- Invest in swimming classes and water safety courses for children and adults. No one expects tragedy but knowing what to do in case of an emergency can save a life.
- Take a CPR course to know what to do in case of an emergency.
