Massive police presence in Cape Coral, the child rushed to the hospital

CAPE CORAL

WINK News is learning more about what brought a child to the hospital Monday afternoon.

Crime scene tape was wrapped around a house in Driftwood Parkway for hours.

WINK News reporter Zach Oliveri received the heartbreaking news from the child’s mother. That mother said that her son had passed away. This is news no one wants to hear, but especially not with the holidays approaching.

Neighbors hoped for a different outcome after what they said was a drowned canal.

No parent wants to see a child, let alone their own, in the back of an ambulance. First responders managed to save the boy’s life.

Michael Droege lived in the same Cape Coral neighborhood as the boy. “It was a blow to the stomach. It’s not just happening in our communities but also on our streets,” said Droege.

On Monday afternoon, Cape Coral Police were called to a home along Driftwood Parkway. Neighbors told WINK News that a child drowned in a canal.

Betsy McDonald also lives nearby. “The canal itself is not that deep. Maybe four feet. So if it was someone a little taller, they could have stood up. So I would assume it was someone younger,” said McDonald.

These neighbors have watched their community turn into a crime scene. Police cars lined the street, and crime scene tape surrounded the entire house.

“Just two minutes up the street and it just tells you if there’s a tragedy it can happen too quickly,” McDonald said. She was shocked to see this.

And, now, McDonald’s is heartbroken because she didn’t hear anything. “If we had heard something when I was a nurse, I would have gone over and at least tried to help,” McDonald said.

Now, this community is mourning the loss of a young life. “It hurts to know everyone you take it home with and give… your kids a hug and make sure they’re protected,” says Droege.

The WINK News crew first saw the child perform CPR as he was loaded into the ambulance.

Neighbors hope this will remind people to be careful around canals and other bodies of water.

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