Two young children drowned in separate backyard pool incidents on Long Island within days of each other, according to Suffolk County police.
A 2-year-old girl was found unresponsive in the pool of her Mastic home on July 20 and later died at a hospital. The following day, July 24, a 3-year-old drowned during a family gathering in Central Islip.
Both children were transported to nearby hospitals in critical condition and subsequently pronounced dead. These incidents have prompted officials to issue stern warnings about water safety during the summer months.
Suffolk County has experienced at least five other water-related deaths since the beginning of May. As of mid-July, the county had recorded at least 50 water-rescue related calls resulting in seven deaths this year. In the previous year, 2025, Suffolk County reported 16 drownings and nearly 120 water-rescue related calls.
In Nassau County, police reported 13 water-rescue related calls as of mid-July this year, with one fatality. Last summer, Nassau police responded to nine such calls, leading to two deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies drowning as the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4 years across the United States.