A 3-year-old boy drowned in his home’s swimming pool on July 29, 2018. Despite a valiant effort by first responders, Lucas Hynes, died early the following morning at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
According to police, on Sunday, the Howell Police Department responded to a home on Fort Plains Road at about 5:20 pm for a 3-year-old found unconscious/unresponsive in the home’s swimming pool.
Police say First responders arrived within minutes and began resuscitation efforts which resulted in Lucas regaining his pulse.
Lucas was transported by MONOC Medics to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Despite Lucas’s strong will to live, he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation determined that Lucas and several young children were swimming and playing outside 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 children went inside the home but Lucas’s mother realized Lucas was not present according to police.
She immediately began looking for him and went outside calling his name. Lucas’s mother then discovered Lucas floating in the pool. Lucas’s mother took Lucas out of the pool and began CPR while witnesses on scene called 9-1-1.
It is estimated Lucas was unaccounted for approximately ten minutes.
The investigation by the Howell Police Department and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is considered closed at this time and deemed a tragic accident.
The investigation is not deemed criminal nor were any suspicious circumstances present. The Howell Police Department sends their condolences to Lucas’s family and friends.
Out of respect for the family and to provide time for the initial investigation, the Howell Police Department refrained from issuing a press release. However, information about the incident has been circulating over social media, therefore, a decision was made to release the facts and circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
The Howell Police Department, Howell Police EMS, Howell First Aid and MONOC Medics responded to the scene.