3-year-old boy drowns at Negros Occidental resort

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 3-year-old boy died after drowning in a swimming pool at a beach resort in Barangay Po-ok, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, on Saturday.

Police said the boy was attending a birthday party at the resort with his aunt and two cousins.

According to the aunt’s account cited by police, she was sitting on a bench beside the pool, talking with friends and watching her nephew, when she noticed after about two minutes that she could no longer see him.

She immediately began searching for the boy.

A 3-year-old girl then shouted that a child was drowning, prompting the aunt to return to the pool area to check on her nephew.

The boy was pulled from the pool, and initial resuscitation efforts were performed with the help of the aunt’s companions.

Rescuers also administered first aid upon their arrival.

The boy was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The World Health Organization says children younger than 5 have the highest drowning rates globally and account for nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths.