HOWELL – A 3-year-old boy has died following an accident in the swimming pool at his home in Howell.
Howell police reported that at 5:20 p.m. July 29, officers responded to a home on Fort Plains Road to assist a child who was found unconscious and unresponsive in the home’s swimming pool. The youngster was identified as Lucas Hynes.
Police said first responders arrived within minutes and began resuscitation efforts which resulted in Lucas regaining his pulse. Lucas was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, by MONOC paramedics. He died on the morning of July 30.
Police said an investigation determined Lucas and several other youngsters were swimming and playing in the backyard, appropriately supervised by an adult. All of the children exited the pool and were playing in the yard, still supervised by an adult.
Eventually, the adult and the children went inside the home, but Lucas’ mother realized he was not present. Police said she immediately began looking for him and went outside, calling his name. His mother found Lucas floating in the pool.
Police said she took the child out of the pool and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation while other individuals called 911. Police said Lucas was unaccounted for about 10 minutes.
The investigation conducted by the Howell Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has been closed and the child’s drowning has been deemed a tragic accident. The investigation is not deemed criminal, nor were any suspicious circumstances present, according to police.
