JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A special-needs child was discovered unresponsive in a retention pond near Dennard Avenue on Saturday afternoon, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Despite efforts from Jacksonville Fire and Rescue to revive the child, they were unsuccessful. The exact circumstances surrounding the child’s presence in the pond remain unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.
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JSO reported that the child was found around 2:00 PM on Saturday. Authorities are working to determine how the child ended up in the water.
In light of the incident, legal experts are calling for stronger safety measures around retention ponds. Adam Finkel, an attorney with the Haggard Law Firm who represents several families impacted by similar drownings in the region, says property owners must implement measures to prevent such tragedies.
“There are specific safety requirements for retention ponds that can help prevent accidents like this,” Finkel said. “Property owners need to make sure banks aren’t too steep or take other measures, such as adding vegetation or, most importantly, fencing around the water line.”
Finkel’s firm represents multiple families whose children drowned in retention ponds that were allegedly not maintained to code. While it’s unclear whether maintenance played a role in this case, Finkel believes that more rigorous standards are needed.
Read: Family of drowned Jacksonville 2-year-old speaks out, accuses apartment management of negligence
Finkel argues that adding fencing around retention ponds could save lives, just as fences around swimming pools are required by law in many areas. “No one ever says, ‘I don’t want to live at that property because there’s a fence around the pool,’” he explained. “It’s standard, and it saves lives. We should have the same standards for retention ponds.”
He believes local and state lawmakers should consider raising the safety standards surrounding retention ponds, given the number of child drownings linked to these bodies of water in recent years.
Read: ‘Constant fear:’ Experts urge caution to parents of children with autism as state drownings increase
At this time, it is unclear whether the child drowned or how the child ended up in the pond. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation to gather more details. The child’s identity and further details about the case have not been released.
As the investigation continues, experts like Finkel urge communities to take a closer look at the safety measures in place around local retention ponds to prevent future incidents.
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