Warner Robins toddler dies after backyard pool incident

A Warner Robins toddler has died after he was found in the backyard pool of his home in the Echo Glen subdivision Sunday morning, authorities said.

The nearly 18-month-old boy and his 2-and-a-half-year-old brother were inside the house running and playing when their parents stepped in the garage for a moment, said Houston County sheriff’s Capt. Randall Banks.

The father heard a door open and went immediately to investigate. He found the younger brother in the pool and the older toddler standing in the yard.

“It’s one of those things where you just you lose track of somebody for a minute,” Banks said. “You lose eye contact with a child for minute to walk in the kitchen, put the other kid’s bottle up, or change a diaper ... I mean it can be anything.”

The children opened two doors to reach the backyard: one door to the sun room and the other door from the sun room to the outside. The pool was an in-ground pool.

The toddler was taken to Houston Medical Center and then to the Medical Center, Navicient Health. He died Sunday night at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health, Banks said.

The death is expected to be ruled an accidental drowning, said Houston County Coroner Danny Galpin.

This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 2:41 PM.