Police say Boca boy nearly drowns in pool

FROM STAFF REPORTS

A 14-month-old boy remains at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Miami after nearly drowning Saturday in a community pool at 200 NE 20th St. in Boca Raton, police said.

Officers responded just before 7 p.m. to a call about a boy floating in the pool.

Public Information Officer Sandra Boonenberg said the child’s mother, Latia Symonette, reported that she and her children were spending time by the pool with another woman, Marselene Norton.

According to the report, Symonette said she went inside the apartment briefly while Norton watched the children. A few minutes later, Symonette said she heard Norton screaming and when she went outside, she saw the baby floating face down in the pool, police said.

Symonette entered the pool, retrieved the baby and, with the
assistance of several people, began CPR, according to reports.

When officers arrived, said Boonenberg, the baby was lying on
the pool deck, unresponsive. The child was transported to Boca Raton Community Hospital by Boca Raton Fire Rescue personnel and then transferred to Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital in
Hollywood.

“Tragically, incidents like this occur all too frequently,” said Boonenberg. “The number of children who drown increases as the weather warms and kids become more attracted to backyard pools and other bodies of water.”

“We encourage everyone to be vigilant,” she said, “and to take the necessary steps to avoid these incidents.”