7-Year-Old Transported After Near-Drowning Incident in Northwest Bradenton
A 7-year-old boy was transported to the hospital Sunday afternoon after a near-drowning incident in northwest Bradenton, according to West Manatee Fire Rescue.
Emergency crews from West Manatee Fire Rescue and Manatee County EMS responded at approximately 1:30 p.m. on June 7 to the 1300 block of 83rd Street N.W. following reports of a child who had been submerged in water and was initially unresponsive.
According to WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski, first responders arrived to find the child out of the water and immediately began providing medical care.
The child’s condition improved rapidly while in the care of emergency personnel. He became alert and conscious before being transported by ground ambulance to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg as a trauma alert for further evaluation and treatment.
Officials said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and no additional details were immediately available.
West Manatee Fire Rescue used the incident to remind residents and visitors of the importance of water safety, particularly during the summer months when children spend more time around pools and other bodies of water.
Safety officials emphasized the importance of constant adult supervision, designating a dedicated water watcher, maintaining pool barriers and enrolling children in swim lessons as key measures to help prevent drowning incidents.