Florida toddler dies after apparent drowning in Volusia County canal: Deputies

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A missing toddler tragically died after apparently drowning in a Volusia County canal on Saturday night, deputies said. 

According to VSO, deputies were called to a home in the Osteen-area around 6 p.m. Saturday after a 2-year-old boy was reported missing. VSO said the boy's parents had already been searching for the boy and that Volusia County deputies helped with the search. 

Around 6:15 p.m. a family member noticed that one of their dogs was wet and that the other dog was barking at the bank of a retention pond, VSO said in a news release posted to its Facebook page. The boy's mother rushed into the canal and pulled the boy out, where deputies began performing CPR.

The boy was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared deceased shortly after 7 p.m. 

Deputies said the preliminary investigation revealed that the young boy was outside playing in the fenced backyard with the dogs – and that his mother had the backdoor open and was checking on him regularly. At some point, however, it appears that the boy managed to open the gate and walk about 300 feet to the canal, which was "obstructed from view by brush and trees."

"The Sheriff’s Office sends sincere condolences to the family, and to all who responded to the call in the hopes of a different outcome," VSO said.