TODDLER DROWNS IN RAMONA POND

June 5, 2011 (Ramona) – A two-year-old child has died at a local hospital after rescuers pulled the toddler from a murky pond in the 1800 block of Cedar Street in Ramona.

According to Sgt. Tom Evans, the Sheriff’s communication center received a 911 call at 3:15 p.m. from a “hysterical” reporting party who said a child was underwater in a pond at the home.  Sheriff’s deputies, Cal-Fire and California Highway Patrol were on the scene within minutes and saw two people thrashing about in the large pond, which measured about 60 x 90 feet. Deputies and firefighters immediately stripped off their gear and jumped into the pond, which was dark and murky with vegetation across the top.

“Visibility was almost zero in the water and searching was done by feel,” Sgt. Evans said.
 

Rescuers found the child in the deepest portion of the pond, about seven feet under water. Lifesaving efforts were initiated immediately and the youngster was transported by ambulance to a waiting air ambulance, which flew the victim to Rady’s Children’s Hospital. Despite the valiant efforts of rescuers and medical personnel, however, the child later succumbed at the hospital.