Toddler drowns in family pool
LA FERIA — Cameron County officials are investigating the Wednesday drowning of a La Feria toddler, using the incident to warn parents about swimming pool safety as summer approaches.
Sheriff Omar Lucio said 19-month-old Israel Muniz drowned in a small pool outside his family’s home at 11269 Muniz St. in La Feria around noon Wednesday.
Israel’s mother had been inside her house watching from a window as the boy played outside with a 3-year-old girl, Lucio said.
The mother left the window for about five minutes, Lucio said, and when she returned the boy was in the pool.
"It didn’t take long, as I understand, just losing track of that child for five minutes," Lucio said.
The mother dragged the boy from the pool and performed CPR on the child until paramedics arrived, Lucio said. The boy was rushed to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, where he was pronounced dead, Lucio said.
He said the pool was a large aboveground pool with water at least 2 feet deep. The pool, he said, was at least 32 feet long and 10 feet wide. The walls were low enough for the child to climb into the pool on his own, Lucio said.
"(The parents) should have emptied the pool before they let the child play around that area," Lucio said. "It’s a real tragedy … It is unfortunate that that happened and parents need to be careful with their kids at all times."
The sheriff’s office is still investigating the incident, Lucio said, adding that the mother could face criminal charges when officials finish the investigation.
"There probably will be (charges) after they get through with the investigation," he said, adding that the sheriff’s office would have to discuss the case with the District Attorney’s Office and decide where to go from there.
Wednesday’s drowning, Lucio said, was Cameron County’s first child drowning this year.
"That’s one too many," he said.
Police are continuing to investigate the death of a 6-year-old Mercedes boy who drowned in a pool at an apartment complex earlier this month.
According to the state’s Child Protective Services division, most child drownings occur in residential pools, and most who die are toddlers.
