Authorities in Florida said a 2-year-old girl who was reported missing in the late afternoon on May 1 was found dead in a lake near her home.
Officials with the Tampa Police Department launched a massive search for Lori Thermidor after she was reported missing by her father.
Thermidor was last seen at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Friday near her home on Redwood Point Drive in Tampa, Florida, police said.
Later that day, around 8:30 p.m., Tampa police found the girl's body in a lake near her home. The girl appeared to have drowned after wandering away from home into the wooded area.
"Sadly, the child was found in the lake deceased," police wrote on Facebook, adding a picture of the girl.
Thermidor's father told responding officers he realized his daughter went missing within minutes and went out to look for the girl, but couldn’t find her. He then informed police his daughter went missing.
Drownings
Drowning is the leading cause of death for young children, according to the National Safety Council—mostly due to falling into a pool or being left in a bath tub."Most parents think water safety is first and foremost on their minds whenever they are enjoying summer activities with their young kids. But when the unthinkable happens, caregivers often say, 'I only looked away for a second,'" The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that “everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).”
A four-sided isolation fence with gates is necessary if children are present.
“This can help keep children away from the area when they aren’t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should completely separate the house and play area from the pool,” according to the CDC.
“When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking on the phone, and using alcohol or drugs,” it added.