BRADENTON, Fla. — A 2-year-old boy drowned Friday in a Bradenton canal.
Police said it happened in the water outside the VIEW Carlton Arms, which is located in the general area of Carlton Arms Boulevard and Manatee Avenue East.
A bystander spotted the toddler in the water and called 911 around 10:31 a.m. In an update from the police department, the agency says the bystander was able to pull the child out from the water and made sure to stay with him.
Paramedics arrived five minutes later. The child, who lives in the apartment complex, did not survive. His name is not being released due to Marsy's Law.
Police spoke with the young boy's parents. Officers have not indicated whether the parents or a caregiver were with the child at the time of the drowning.
Investigators are trying to figure out how the child got into the canal. While the cause of death hasn't been confirmed yet, police say they believe the toddler drowned.
"This is a sad reminder that drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four," the police department said in the update. "While most drownings in children one to four happen in swimming pools, drownings can happen anytime, including when children are not expected to be near water, such as when they gain unsupervised access to pools or other bodies of water."
Emergency crews, including paramedics and forensic investigators, were on the scene for several hours Friday. Many of the apartments in the complex are adjacent to the water.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.