Local

Investigation underway after 4-year-old child drowns in Brookline pool

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Officials are investigating following the drowning death of a four-year-old child, Monday. The child was pulled from a pool on Prescott Street in Brookline, shortly before 5 p.m.

“There were several ambulances, fire trucks. I saw them come with a stretcher,” said an anonymous neighbor. “The child went in the ambulance and then the family and the mother looked at me and said ‘Pray for us.’ They were very distraught. Everybody was distraught. It’s terrifying. We don’t see things in the neighborhood like this.”

Police say an adult on the scene pulled the child out and began performing CPR with the guidance of a dispatcher. The lifesaving efforts continued when emergency crews arrived.

Medics took the 4-year-old to Boston Children’s Hospital, but he did not survive.

Throughout the evening a Boston 25 News reporter witnessed a social worker arrive at the house to console family members, as well as Massachusetts State Police arrive to take pictures for the investigation.

“This is a very quiet neighborhood,” said neighbor Ana Albuquerque. “It’s very safe as far as I can tell, so when I saw multiple ambulances I was very surprised.”

The child was one of several in the pool at the time of the drowning, and that several adults were in very close proximity. At this time they say this case appears to be an unfortunate accident, however, it remains under investigation, according to Brookline Police.

“For so many of us, Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer, and this tragedy serves as an important reminder that drowning can happen in a matter of seconds, and it’s often silent, not the way it’s depicted in the movies or on television,” said Brookline Police Department Deputy Superintendent Jennifer Paster.

“More children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects, and for children ages 1–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes,” Deputy Superintendent Paster continued.

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