A quiet Saturday in Brooklyn Park turned tragic when a 2-year-old was pulled from a private backyard pool and later died at a local hospital, according to Anne Arundel County police. Officers were called to a home in the 400 block of Townsend Avenue around 12:30 p.m., where they found the child unresponsive. Sgt. Chris Anderson, a spokesperson for the department, said the incident happened at a private residence, and investigators are still sorting through what happened.
Police Investigate Brooklyn Park Pool Death
Anne Arundel County police say officers responded to a report of a drowning around 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the 400 block of Townsend Avenue. The child was pulled from a private pool and taken to a hospital, where they later died, Sgt. Chris Anderson told The Banner. The Banner noted the death is among the state’s first drownings of the summer.
Another Recent Water Death This Month
This incident follows another water fatality earlier in June, when search crews recovered the body of 20-year-old Towson University student Nazir Bell after he went missing while swimming in the Potomac River, according to Daily Voice. Rescue crews in that case spent multiple days searching the river near Great Falls before recovering the body.
Why Toddlers Face The Highest Drowning Risk
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, and most fatalities in that age group happen in pools, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pediatric experts say families should rely on multiple layers of protection, including four-sided pool fencing, constant close supervision, properly fitting life jackets, and swim lessons, rather than expecting a single measure to be enough, per the American Academy of Pediatrics.
What Local Officials Are Urging Now
Anne Arundel County Police have not released the child’s name and are asking anyone with information to check the department’s news page for updates, where the agency posts press releases and contact details on the county website. Local safety officials also urge pool owners to secure barriers and keep children under close, constant supervision whenever water is accessible.
This is a developing story, and Hoodline will update with any new information from investigators and local officials as it becomes available. In the meantime, public-health experts recommend layering protection around pools and open water this summer to reduce the risk of similar tragedies.
