OCALA, Fla. – A 1-year-old Flagler County boy died Sunday morning after falling into a septic tank outside of an Ocala apartment complex, according to officials.
Marion County sheriff's deputies say Wyatt Steed drowned in the hole after wandering away from his guardian outside of the Greenfield Apartments on SE 29th Place.
The hole was 23 inches long and 30 inches wide, with an undetermined depth of water, deputies said.
Deputies performed CPR while waiting for medics to arrive. Steed was transported to the hospital, where he died Sunday afternoon.
"It's pretty devastating to see things and not know how to deal with them, not know what could've done to help the situation," said Karen Brien.
Brien lives in the apartment complex where this happened. She says she's upset something like this had to happen to trigger change.
"A lot of sadness," said Brien. "There are a lot of children in this neighborhood and I'm sure all of the parents here are just blown away by it."
John McLellan, owner of Ground Guys of Ocala, has mowed the apartment complex's lawn for years and says he never noticed anything out of the ordinary.
"It's very tragic," said McLellan. "I couldn't imagine. I have five kids of my own. I just couldn't imagine."
Crews have filled the hole at the apartment complex.
Local 6 went by the complex's front office Monday, but no one answered the door.
The sheriff's office says their investigation continues into exactly how this happened and if this was it just a horrible accident or if charges are warranted.