Child pulled from water at Babcock Ranch, family says they're OK

BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (WINK) — Charlotte County deputies responded to a child drowning incident in the Babcock Ranch community Saturday evening.

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office deputies, along with Fire and EMS, responded to the incident. The sheriff's office confirmed there is an active investigation underway.

WINK News anchor Jillian Haggerty spoke with a family member, who said the child is doing OK. 

Ashley Turner with Charlotte County Fire & EMS released a statement on water safety following the incident. "Sadly, drowning can happen quickly and often without warning," Turner said.

"In a community like Charlotte County, where we are surrounded by pools, canals, rivers, and the Gulf, water safety is something we all need to take seriously."

Charlotte County Fire & EMS encourages everyone to practice simple but lifesaving water safety habits. Never leave children unattended around water, even for a moment.

Designate a responsible adult as a dedicated water watcher and avoid distractions like phones. Drowning is often silent, and strong swimmers can also find themselves in trouble due to fatigue, medical emergencies or unexpected conditions.

Wearing a life jacket during boating or other water activities is always encouraged. For homeowners, layers of protection such as pool barriers, self-closing and self-latching gates, door alarms and pool alarms can help prevent tragedies.

"We also encourage families to enroll children in age-appropriate swim lessons and learn CPR, because immediate bystander action can make a critical difference before first responders arrive," Turner said. "As we continue through the summer, we ask everyone to remain vigilant around the water."

A few simple precautions can help prevent a tragedy and save a life.