DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The father of a boy who drowned in a Florida wave pool told investigators he thought his son had gotten out of the water and was looking for him at a nearby playground.
Lamar Farrell says 6-year-old Kaiden Lawson was playing at Daytona Lagoon with his 9-year-old brother on Saturday when the waves started. Farrell says he looked away briefly to tend a younger son and when he looked back, he only saw the older boy.
Farrell tells The Daytona Beach News-Journal he thought Kaiden had gotten out of the water and was searching for him.
A police report says Kaiden was only in swim trunks. The pool offers free lifejackets and requires guests under 42-inches (106.6-centimeters) to wear one. Kaiden’s height wasn’t included in the police report.
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