1 child dead, another injured after being pulled from backyard pool in South Jersey

HARRISON TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- A 2-year-old is dead and another child is injured after being pulled from a backyard pool in South Jersey Tuesday night.

Crews responded to a home on Malus Court in Harrison Township, Gloucester County for children in distress in a swimming pool.

Officials said two children were given CPR before being rushed to an area hospital.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office tells Action News a 2-year-old died. The second child, a 4-year-old, is hospitalized in critical condition.

The children were related, but were not siblings.

It's unclear if the children lived at the home or if they were visiting.

The prosecutor's office said the mothers of the two children were present at the home at the time of the incident.

Residents in the Mullica Hill area were heartbroken when they heard the news.

Sandy Vesey of Harrison Township says she knows how quickly something can go wrong.

"Even as diligent as we were that time, it happened so quickly," said Vesey, who almost lost her son when he fell into their backyard pool as a small child more than 20 years ago.

"My daughter was screaming that he had fallen into the pool," she recalled. "So immediately called 911. I pulled him out of the pool. He wasn't breathing so I started breathing for him."

Her son was around one year old at the time.

He was flown to Cooper Medical Center for treatment and released the next day.

While investigators are still looking into what happened Tuesday night, Harrison Township police are reminding pool owners to be vigilant.

All pools must be surrounded by a four-foot high fence.

There are also optional measures like sensors to detect motion in a pool or door alarms.

Police add no technology can replace supervision.

"Supervision is always paramount. That's gonna be the biggest thing," said Harrison Twp. Police Lt. David Marro. "Having an eye on your children, where they are, what they're doing."