Toddler drowns in swimming pool at Oak Grove home, authorities say
A 2-year-old has died after drowning in a swimming pool in Oak Grove, according to Jackson County authorities.
Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the 38600 block of E. Parrent Road around 11:50 a.m. Thursday, according to Sheriff Darryl Forté.
Deputies discovered a 2-year-old who had drowned in a pool in the backyard of the home. The child was discovered by a family member, according to Forté.
The toddler was pronounced dead at a local hospital Thursday. The drowning is being investigated on the county level, rather than by the Oak Grove Police Department.
Drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment further, explaining that an investigation is still ongoing.
An average of 385 people drown in pools or spas nationwide each year, according to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Three out of four of these drowning victims are under 5 years old.
Of all cases where children under 15 drowned in 2023, 81% drowned in a home, backyard or other residential setting, the CPSC reported.
