In the span of just three days, Port St. Lucie, Florida, was rocked by two heartbreaking incidents that resulted in the drowning deaths of two young children. These separate tragedies have left the community in shock and mourning.
The most recent incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, involving Roger Rivera, a 13-year-old boy with autism who was non-verbal. The boy vanished from his backyard where he was with his mother. According to Leo Niemczyk, the local Police Chief, Roger "suddenly took off running" and his mother was unable to keep up, losing sight of him shortly after.
Neighbors and authorities quickly began a search operation, utilizing drones, dive teams, and officers from various agencies to scour nearby bodies of water. Witnesses reported seeing Roger enter a retention pond located behind his home. His iPad was discovered near the water's edge, guiding the search efforts.
After several hours, divers recovered his body around 7:00 PM, submerged approximately six feet deep and just a few meters from shore. "It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce Roger Rivera, 13, was found deceased in a body of water near his residence," stated the Port St. Lucie Police on X.
The first tragedy happened on Friday afternoon when a three-year-old boy was found by his father floating in the family pool on Southwest Edison Circle. The father was caring for his son, another four-year-old child, and his three-month-old baby. According to the police report, he fed the baby and put him down for a nap. Upon returning to the kitchen, he discovered the back door open and saw the two young children outside: one by the pool deck and the other in the water.
He immediately began CPR while waiting for firefighters, who transported the child to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Although the pool was enclosed by a fence, it lacked surveillance cameras. Investigators are looking into how the child accessed the pool area.
Chief Niemczyk urged parents and caregivers to enhance safety measures in homes with young children, emphasizing high-security locks and motion alarms for pools, as drowning is a leading cause of death among children under five in Florida. In 2024 alone, 105 children lost their lives due to drowning in the state.
The untimely deaths of these two youngsters have deeply affected the community and rescue personnel. CBS 12 reported that the police have organized psychological support sessions for those involved in both cases.
Community Impact and Safety Measures in Port St. Lucie
What steps are being taken to support the community after these tragedies?
The police have arranged psychological support sessions for the personnel involved in the search and rescue operations, aiming to help them cope with the emotional toll of these devastating events.
How can parents improve pool safety to prevent such incidents?
Parents can enhance pool safety by installing high-security locks, using motion alarms, and ensuring constant adult supervision. These measures aim to prevent young children from accessing pool areas unsupervised.