Toddler drowns at Lodi Lake
May 11—What was supposed to be a fun Mother's Day at Lodi Lake turned into a tragedy for a San Joaquin County family.
The Lodi Police Department announced on social media Monday morning that officers and Lodi Fire Department crews responded to a drowning on the southwest side of the lake at 4:45 p.m. Sunday.
Arriving officers performed life-saving measures on a male toddler, and were relieved by a citizen who happened to be a doctor. That citizen also attempted life-saving measures on the boy until fire department paramedics arrived, police said.
The boy was rushed to Adventist Health Lodi Memorial by ambulance, where staff there attempted to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
"The City of Lodi extends its deepest sympathies to the family for their tragic loss," the police department said in its social media post.
Residents posting on other local social media pages said the boy was 3 years old.
"It's too sad. We have babies the same age and prayed for this (little) boy," Daniel and Michelle Ramirez posted on the police department announcement.
"I am always nervous when I'm out there too," they said. "But I've always wondered why doesn't Lodi Lake have gates around the water... like swimming pools do? With latches high enough for adults to fish. Just a suggestion."
No further details of the accident were made available Monday.
A GoFundMe has been created to pay for the boy's funeral expenses at tinyurl.com/3ju3jas5.
