This year so far has seen almost as many child drowning deaths in the metro Phoenix as the entirety of 2023.
In 2023, 12 children fatally drowned in the Valley. So far in 2024, the count has reached 11.
The latest death was a 6-year-old boy from Mesa at a man-made lake near an apartment complex. It remains unclear how long he had been submerged.
Police Detective Richard Encinas of the Mesa Police Department says, a day later, investigators are still trying to figure out what happened
“For us here in Mesa, this is our 10th drowning this year. Four of those have resulted in fatalities … two of them were adults, so it’s not just children but anybody around water," Encinas said.
A total of 31 people have died in water-related incidents in metro Phoenix since January, highlighting a broader public safety concern.
Authorities urge parents and guardians to keep a close eye on kids around water to avoid any more tragedies.
