Toddler and 74-year-old relative die after drowning in north Harris County pond

A family visit to a pond in the Spring Lakes Haven area of north Harris County ended in the deaths of a 2-year-old child and a 74-year-old relative after deputies were called just before 6 p.m. to the 900 block of Spring Lakes Haven.

When first responders reached the scene, firefighters and EMS crews were already trying to save the older woman near the pond. A short time later, rescuers found the toddler in the water, pulled him to shore and started CPR. Both victims were taken to area hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead.

Ed Gonzalez said on X that the two victims were related. Detectives and investigators remained at the scene working to determine exactly what happened, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional identifying details in the initial case information.

The toddler’s mother said the 74-year-old relative had taken the child to the park before the drowning.

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children under age 5, and toddlers are especially vulnerable. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ latest posted tally counts 103 child drownings in Texas in 2024 and 88 more in 2025.

A Baylor College of Medicine review of 116 fatal drownings involving Harris County children ages 1 to 18 from 2016 through 2022 found 70% were associated with unsecured barriers, and none of the children knew how to swim. The review also cited National Center for Missing and Exploited Children data showing that more than 90% of children with autism who drown do so within 300 yards of home.

The Harris County Flood Control District was created by the Texas Legislature in 1937, and a major flood occurs somewhere in Harris County about every two years. Across the county, detention and stormwater ponds sit beside homes, parks and streets, often looking harmless until a child reaches the edge.