A 19-month-old child has died in what is believed to be an accidental drowning, according to Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant.
The drowning happened Sunday just after 10 p.m., Merchant said. A man called 911 and said that his grandson was unconscious after being found floating in the bathtub. The child was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, where he was pronounced dead.
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said that investigators from his office had responded, but that it appeared to be an accident.
The 19-month-old was in the tub with a 3-year-old sibling, Hawkins said.
“There was nothing intentional,” Hawkins said. “I think the grandfather just turned his back for a minute and when he came back the baby was face-down in the water. I don’t think there was any criminal activity there, it was just accidental.”
The body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Pearl for an autopsy, Merchant said.
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