OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A 5-year-old child who had autism recently drowned after walking away from an Osceola County playground that was specifically designed for “children on the autism spectrum,” according to a news release.
Deputies said that Arturo Angarita was with his father and another sibling at SENSES Park at 2296 Camelia Drive, Kissimmee, on Nov. 13.
His father, Leonardo Angarita, told News 6 that while he was tending to his other son, he briefly lost sight of Arturo and began searching the park for him.
“So, what do you do in a place that’s supposed to be safe? You look in the place that’s supposed to be safe. You’re not thinking he left anywhere,” he explained.
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Angarita said after not finding Arturo inside the park, he quickly put his other son on his shoulders and began looking outside the gate, while on the phone with police.
According to the news release, multiple units from the sheriff’s office patrol, aviation, K9 and criminal investigations divisions responded to the area to look for the child.
Deputies said that a bloodhound K9 helped track the direction the child went after walking away from the park.
The boy was found in a nearby storm drain. Deputies entered the water and began life-saving measures, but the child was pronounced dead a short time later after being transported to Nemours Children’s Hospital.
Angarita said he asked police on the scene how his son was after the child was found, but got no answer. He eventually connected with a family member in the area who saw the child before encountering Angarita.
“My cousin comes out, because he lives right there, right where we grew up, this happened right where I grew up. He’s the one who told me, ‘I’m not going to lie to you, Leo. Your son is not breathing,‘” Angarita explained.
Angarita said he got on his hands and knees praying for his son’s survival.
“I said, ‘God, God, bring my son. Please keep him alive. Please God, please God,’” he explained.
After losing his son, Angarita came back to the park to shut the gate himself.
“It was open,” he said. “[My attorney] told me not to tamper with anything, and I couldn’t live knowing that it is still open. So I closed it myself with some rope,” he said as he gestured toward the gate his son used to leave the park.
Osceola County said that SENSES Park is an “all-inclusive playground” that caters to children on the spectrum.
News 6 reached out to Osceola County regarding the incident.
In a statement, they said, “This is a heartbreaking tragedy. Our thoughts go out to Arturo’s family during this difficult time and for this unthinkable loss. The County is reviewing the situation to determine the facts involved.”
Angarita said he has not heard from the county since his son died.
“I call them every day. They don’t respond,” he said.
“How does that make you feel?” News 6 reporter Stephanie Rodriguez asked.
“That makes me feel like the death of a kid doesn’t matter,” he replied.
The father has retained an attorney, Marwan Porter, who told reporters they are conducting their own investigation and considering legal action.
“In our justice system, civil action is the way to hold people accountable and to let and to let whether it’s a private or public entity know that you have to do things the right way,” Porter said.
As for what changes he wants to see to improve safety at parks, Angarita said he would like to see higher fences, cameras and water near the playground fenced-off. He also wants Senses Park needs to be secured at all times, to avoid heartache for families.
“At the end of the day, that gate was not supposed to be open,” he said. “That gate was not supposed to be cracked.”
In their release, the sheriff’s office reminded residents about their Project Lifesaver program, which is designed to “help individuals affected with a cognitive disorder that may lead to elopement or wandering,” according to its website.
Enrollees in the program wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If the person wearing the transmitter goes missing, the caregiver can notify the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and trained search specialists respond to the wanderer’s area.
You can learn more about the program here.
Experts say children with autism are drawn to water, and their challenges with communication and sensory processing can make these environments especially hazardous.
You can read about how Central Florida counties are taking steps to address these risks clicking here.
In addition, a GoFundMe has been set up by Arturo Angarita’s family. It can be found by clicking here.
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