Toddler Found In NSB-Area Pond In Tragic Apparent Drowning Incident

Date Added: May 14, 2019 8:55 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

TODDLER FOUND IN NSB-AREA POND IN TRAGIC APPARENT DROWNING INCIDENT

An 18-month-old boy tragically lost his life this evening after he got out of his family's New Smyrna Beach-area home and was found unresponsive in a backyard pond.

Volusia County sheriff's deputies responded to the call on the 4000 block of Cresthill Lane off S.R. 415 around 6:17 p.m. Tuesday. The child, Levi Thomas (DOB 11/17/17) had been found in the pond by his mother, who performed CPR until first responders arrived.

Levi was later pronounced deceased at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach.

The initial investigation of this tragedy indicates that Levi left the house through a dog door while his mother was briefly out of the room. When she returned and realized he was missing, she searched around the house for him until she found him in the pond, which is surrounded by sloping ground.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office family sends its condolences to Levi's family and everyone affected by this tragic loss. "Please keep this hurting family in your prayers tonight as they grieve a loss that most of us cannot imagine," Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.

No additional details or records are available in this case at this time.