Deerfield Beach Toddler Drowned In Community Pool

DEERFIELD BEACH (CBS4) - The father of a Deerfield Beach toddler has a message for parents after his daughter drowned in a community pool.

"They just come around once. Make sure you enjoy every single moment every single laugh and give them all the love they need," said Luis Lacerda.

The Broward County Sheriff's office said the two-year old girl got out of her home undetected sometime Saturday.

"The mother was home with the child and at some point the child slipped out from the residence," said Mike Jachles from BSO.

Deputies said when the child's father got home, he realized the little girl was missing and the family called 9-1-1.

"While our deputies were responding…we received another call that the child's father located the child in the pool," said Jachles.

According to Jachles, the father pulled the child out of the pool and began CPR. Rescue crews arrived, continued CPR, then took the girl to the hospital via helicopter where the little girl was pronounced dead.

"My daughter was always full of life, full of joy. There's never been a single day that I haven't seen the baby smile just the kind of kid that came into the room brightened up the room," said Lacer.

It's not clear exactly how the little girl got into the pool area, but her father says he'd like to see magnetic locks on gates surrounding community pools.

" You never know when people are going to be here and then go, so just watch over them and make sure if there's bodies of water, double check your locks double check your other gates make sure the pools are secured," said Lacerda.

BSO said the investigation is ongoing, but it appears to be a "tragic accident."