A day after a holiday celebration turned tragic, visitors returned to Pasco County’s SunWest Park to remember a 3-year-old boy who died after drowning during the park’s Scallop and Music Festival.
Investigation Ongoing
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said the child was reported missing around 5:30 p.m. Saturday after wandering away from his family during the festival at SunWest Park. Witnesses said panic spread throughout the beach as deputies and bystanders searched for the boy. He was eventually found in the water and pulled ashore, where CPR was performed before he was flown to a nearby hospital. Investigators said he later died.
People who witnessed the tragedy described the scene as heartbreaking and said the mother’s cries left a lasting impact.
Community Comes Together
On Sunday, community members organized an informal memorial at the beach, leaving flowers, candles, stuffed animals and toy cars near a blue bucket they believed belonged to the child.
Pamela Brown, who previously worked as an emergency medical technician, said losing a child is especially devastating. Brown’s daughter, Tracey Bayne, urged people to show compassion. “Kids in general, they’re easy to sneak off. It can happen to anybody. So, people need to remember that. Before blame is placed, your child can sneak off, that’s what children do,” Bayne said.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
