EL PORTAL, FLA. (WSVN) - The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of a girl who drowned in the backyard pool of a home in El Portal.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to a call at 3:30 a.m. on Friday following reports of a juvenile in cardiac arrest, with the caller stating that she can’t swim to the child.
“156 Northwest 90 Street, 4-year-old female cardiac or respiratory arrest. Possible drowning,” one dispatcher said over Broadcastify. “The complainant is advising that the juvenile is still in the pool. Says she can’t swim to get to her.”
First responders rushed to the home along the 100 block of Northwest 90th Street, pulled the child from the pool and performed life-saving measures, even as she was rushed into the doors of Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Richard Cooper, the family’s attorney, told 7News that they were renting the property, which is an Airbnb, when the victim got out and walked to the backyard.
“The unimaginable has happened to this family,” said Cooper.
Neighbors said they don’t know the family, but they are heartbroken by the tragedy.
“It’s just very sad. It’s very sad for 3:00 in the morning. I really don’t know what she was doing that morning. If she was a special needs child, it’s very sad,” said one neighbor. “I immediately thought about my little nephew, because he’s special needs, but he loves to swim.”
Officers roped off the home and preserved the scene, as they awaited the arrival of MDSO homicide detectives, who have since taken over the ongoing investigation.
The circumstances surrounding how the child ended up in the pool are currently unknown.
Cooper said the tragedy is being investigated as an accident, and there are currently no criminal allegations being made.
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