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3-year-old boy dies after being found unresponsive in family’s pool

Posted at 4:26 PM, Jun 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-05 22:59:51-04

PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office is investigating a 3-year-old's death after he was found unresponsive in the family's above ground pool Monday afternoon.

Ottawa County deputies say they were called to a home in the 17000 block of 3rd Street at about 2:00pm.

When they arrived on scene, they say the parents of Kario Klassen were trying to revive him.

"The family had been out there in the backyard doing some yard work, mom and dad both. Both for a very short time attended some other tasks, noticed the 3-year-old was no longer playing in the sand area next to the pool, and couldn’t find him," said Captain Mark Bennett with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. "Ultimately and tragically they found him in the bottom of the pool."

Klassen was taken to Holland Hospital but was pronounced dead within an hour.

Officials say the gate of the pool was locked at the time, and say they're trying to figure out how the toddler was able to get in.

"Even someone as young as 3-years-old can be very resourceful depending on their level of involvement and their level of familiarity of that pool," says Captain Bennett. "It’s possible he could have opened it himself, so that’s part of the investigation."

Investigators say this appears to be a tragic accident, but have notified Child Protective Services, which is protocol when there's a death, especially one that happens at a home.

Captain Bennett says there is an important lesson to learn from this.

"The teaching point here or the takeaway is please be ultra attentive, especially around that water hazard," said Captain Bennett. "I’m placing absolutely no judgment on this particular family because, again, for all intents and purposes, it appears to be a tragic event, but please be extra vigilant and watch children around the water. It can just take a very split second for a child to go out of your vision."

The Sheriff's Office says the family is being helped by victims' advocates.

FOX 17 is told Kairo was the youngest of five children.