CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) -- The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office is reminding parents about the importance of swim safety after the weekend drowning of a four-year-old girl.
It happened late Friday afternoon at a home on Spring Creek Highway in Wakulla County.
Keith Blackmar with the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office says the four-year-old was visiting family from Prentiss, Mississippi. Family members tell deputies that the little girl was seen inside of the home just before 4:30 p.m. It wasn't until about 10 minutes later, deputies say, that another family member saw the girl's body in the deep end of the swimming pool.
Blackmar says it's believed during a large family gathering at the home the toddler slipped into the pool while reaching for an item floating in the water.
An autopsy performed Saturday ruled the girl's death as being consistent with accidental drowning.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. In a new summer campaign, they are encouraging parents to be vigilant and always supervise their children -- even when not around the pool.
For more information on drowning prevention and statistics visit www.waterprooffl.com
