Toddler Drowns in Backyard Pond

Toddler Drowns in Backyard Pond


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Sandra Yi ReportingA tragic story out of West Bountiful this afternoon, a 17-month old boy drowned in a small pond in his backyard.

Family members wasted no time draining the pond and taking it apart.

Jeff Sanders, Uncle: "It's just a tiny little pond and I guess the smallest bit of water, this can happen."

Toddler Drowns in Backyard Pond

Relatives say the small pond is always empty, but recent rainfall filled it up. There was about two inches of water in it. This afternoon, while his mother went to get the mail, 17-month old Ethan Burke got out an open back door and fell in.

Jeff Sanders: "Heard some screaming and woke up and ran out in my underwear and jumped off the balcony and tried to help, but it seemed like it was a little too late."

Toddler Drowns in Backyard Pond

Police say Ethan was in the water for several minutes before someone found him. His grandmother pulled him out and started CPR. Ethan was unconscious, when an ambulance took him to the hospital.

Chief Randy Lloyd, West Bountiful Police Dept.: "It's an unfortunate circumstance. It doesn't appear if there was anyone at fault at this particular occasion."

Police say what happened is another reminder for all parents to keep a close eye on their kids.

Randy Lloyd: "And the other thing would be, when you have standing water, more than just a few inches, you need to take care of it, unless you can make sure you're fenced off and nobody can get to it."

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