A tragic drowning incident claimed the life of a 5-year-old child Saturday morning just north in Fernandina Beach, despite frantic rescue efforts by beachgoers and beachgoers, lifeguards, and arriving emergency responders.
Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue and the city’s fire department responded to an emergency around noon after lifeguards were alerted to a child in distress, according to the Fernandina Observer.
The child was found face down in shallow water—about 2 to 3 feet deep and roughly five feet from the shoreline.
Beach conditions were moderate at the time and no rip currents had been reported in the area.
Bystanders reached the child before lifeguards arrived and immediately began CPR.
Ocean Rescue personnel arrived soon after and continued life-saving efforts, which were soon taken over by the Fernandina Beach Fire Department.
The child was rushed to a waiting rescue unit in the Seaside Park parking lot and had regained a pulse before being handed over to EMS.
Tragically, the child went into cardiac arrest again and could not be resuscitated.
Authorities have not released the child’s name.
An investigation is underway by Fernandina Beach Police to determine the circumstances of the incident.
In a public statement, the Fernandina Beach Fire Department expressed condolences to the child’s family and thanked both the bystanders and first responders for their efforts.
“Our thoughts are with the child’s family during this tragic time, and we are grateful for the quick actions of the bystanders, and for the rapid response and professionalism of our Ocean Rescue and Fire Department personnel,” the agency said the news release.
