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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 4, 2004 Two-year-old drowns in tragic pool mishap SAMS VALLEY — An unsupervised toddler drowned here Friday afternoon after falling into a half-finished swimming pool at his home. Paramedics could not resuscitate 2-year-old Stephen Randolph Horvath, who was not breathing when his mother found him at the bottom of the swimming pool in water approximately 18 inches deep, said Rod Edwards, battalion chief for Jackson County Fire District No. 3. Located in the side yard of a new home in the 6800 block of Beagle Road, the pool was under construction and all but dry, Edwards added. The boy’s mother, whose name was not available, told emergency medical workers that her son went off to play, and she noticed about 20 to 30 minutes later that he was missing. Family members started CPR on the child at 12:12 p.m. Volunteer firefighters took over when they arrived approximately 10 minutes later, Edwards said. Paramedics continued efforts to revive the toddler in an ambulance headed for Rogue Valley Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. A cluster of small hand prints left in sediment on the pool’s liner showed the boy’s struggle, Edwards said. If the child had been able to stand, his head would have been above the water level. However, the sloped bottom was likely too slippery, and the boy’s wet denim overalls would have weighed him down, Edwards said. The boy apparently chased several small plastic balls into the deepest end of the pool which — drained — may not have seemed an obvious threat, Edwards said. The toddler had to climb up and down a ladder to reach the pool floor, he added. "It’s sad; this happens every year," Edwards said. "Any pond, any creek, any bucket of water is a hazard to children." Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters said an investigation into the drowning is under way and no charges have been filed. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities