Child unresponsive after near-drowning in Kent

KENT, Wash. — Police responded to reports of a child face-down in a pond in the area of the 23600 block of Lakeside Boulevard East in Kent, Wash. around 4 p.m. Sunday.

Kent Fire said a family member pulled the child out of the water, and bystanders started CPR on the child.

Neighbors on scene say the victim is a two-year-old girl.

Robert Ellis, who heard screaming and ran over to see if he could help, says family members were distraught.

“The girl’s mom, she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Save her baby, praying to god, don't take her baby,” Ellis said. “It’s still kind of hard to talk about.”

When officers arrived they began chest compressions on the child, who was in cardiac arrest, police said.

Firefighters from the Puget Sound RFA later took over the medical care of the child with assistance from King County Paramedics.

About 30 minutes later, paramedics transported the child to a local hospital. It is unknown how long the child had been under water.

The pond is one of several in the area where a number of apartments are located.

Kent police say they are investigating the circumstances of the incident, but Ellis says he heard there was a party at the club room for the "Waterford at the Lake" apartments, and somehow the toddler got out.

Puget Sound Fire says officers are checking with nearby buildings for surveillance video.

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