The child was found unconscious in a backyard pool and later died at a hospital.
PHOENIX, Ariz. — A 1-year-old girl died after being pulled from a backyard swimming pool in north Phoenix on Saturday evening, authorities said. Family members began CPR before firefighters arrived, but the child later was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The incident occurred during a week that saw multiple child drowning emergencies across the Phoenix area. Officials said the girl was found unconscious and not breathing at a home near Bell Road and 56th Street. Phoenix police have opened an investigation as authorities work to determine how the child entered the pool and how long she may have been in the water.
Emergency crews were dispatched at about 7:30 p.m. after reports of a drowning at a residence in northeast Phoenix. According to fire officials, relatives were already performing CPR when first responders arrived. Firefighters and paramedics took over lifesaving efforts and transported the child to a hospital. Despite those efforts, she later died. The incident unfolded in a residential neighborhood near Bell Road and 56th Street, an area with numerous homes that contain backyard swimming pools. Authorities have not released the child’s name, and investigators have not disclosed additional details about the circumstances that led to the emergency. The death was confirmed several hours after the initial response, turning what began as a rescue effort into a fatal investigation.
Officials said the child was unconscious and not breathing when she was removed from the water. Investigators have not publicly stated who discovered her or exactly when she was last seen before the incident. Police have taken over the case, which is standard procedure when a child dies unexpectedly. Detectives are expected to review witness statements, examine the scene, and determine whether any criminal conduct played a role. At this stage, authorities have not announced any arrests or charges. The investigation remains active, and several key questions remain unanswered, including how access to the pool occurred and whether any safety barriers or protective measures were in place at the property. Officials have emphasized that the inquiry is ongoing and that findings will be released when the investigation is complete.
The tragedy comes during a period when Arizona communities regularly see an increase in water-related emergencies. Swimming pools are common throughout the Valley, where summer temperatures routinely climb above 100 degrees. Public safety agencies often report a rise in drowning calls during the hottest months of the year as families spend more time around pools and other bodies of water. The latest death followed another serious incident in Phoenix one day earlier, when a 3-year-old boy was pulled from an apartment complex pool near 11th Avenue and Camelback Road. Authorities said the boy remained hospitalized in critical condition. Together, the incidents have renewed attention on the dangers posed by residential and community pools, particularly for toddlers and young children who can enter the water quickly and quietly.
The investigation into the girl’s death now moves to the next stage. Phoenix police will continue gathering evidence and reviewing information collected by first responders. Depending on the findings, investigators could forward the case to prosecutors for review, although authorities have not indicated that criminal charges are being considered. Medical examiners also are expected to document the circumstances surrounding the death as part of the official record. Police have not announced any upcoming briefings, but additional information could be released once interviews are completed and investigators finish processing evidence from the scene. For now, officials say the case remains under review and that no conclusions have been reached about the events leading to the drowning.
Neighbors and emergency personnel faced another difficult scene involving a young child. Fire crews arrived to find family members already attempting to save the girl, a sign of the urgency surrounding the emergency. Officials have repeatedly described such incidents as among the most challenging calls first responders encounter. The child’s family received support as medical teams worked to revive her. While investigators focused on gathering facts, the loss added to a series of recent tragedies involving children and pools in the region. Community members in similar cases often describe shock at how quickly a routine evening can turn into an emergency. In this case, authorities have remained focused on determining exactly what happened and providing answers to the family.
The child was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital, and Phoenix police continue investigating. Officials have not released additional details. The next milestone in the case is the completion of the police investigation and any findings released by authorities.
Author note: Last updated June 23, 2026.