It is too terrible to even contemplate, but for one Flagler County family, the nightmare became their reality recently when a toddler fell into the septic tank adjacent to his guardian’s apartment. The accident occurred at the Greenfield Apartments in Ocala.
According to officials with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the 1-year-old boy slipped away from his guardian and wound up in the septic tank. Water of unknown depth filled the 23-inch by 30-inch hole that has now been filled in by workers.
While deputies waited for the arrival of medics, they attempted to revive the toddler with CPR. He was taken to a local hospital where he died shortly after arrival.
The owner of the lawn care service responsible for maintaining the ground of the apartment complex remarked that he had never spotted the open sewer before. A local news crew attempted to interview the manager of the apartment complex, but nobody answered their knocks.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s tragic death to determine if charges will be filed.
Whenever hazardous conditions are present on a property, the potential for tragedy is there as well. Property owners and managers have the duty to maintain the premises in such a manner that the public is not at risk from preventable accidents and calamities.
If you have been injured on another’s property or lost a loved one to a senseless death attributable to dangerous property conditions, you may be eligible for financial compensation for your injuries and losses. While there is no sum of money that can replace a lost life, seeking justice can prevent another loss and help provide family members with needed closure.
Source: WKMG, “Toddler dies in septic tank drowning, Marion deputies say,” Justin Warmoth, Aug. 09, 2015