Tragedy in Little River Myrtle Beach: Child Dies After Being Pulled from Retention Pond, Officials Say
Myrtle Beach, SC — A heartbreaking incident unfolded Sunday afternoon in the Surfside Beach area when a young child died after being pulled from a retention pond, according to local authorities.
Horry County Fire Rescue responded to the scene around 3:45 p.m. after reports of a child in distress in a retention pond near the 600 block of Clearwater Drive, just outside the Surfside Beach town limits.
First responders arrived quickly and pulled the child from the water. CPR and life-saving efforts were immediately initiated at the scene before the child was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, officials confirmed the child later died.
As of Monday morning, the child’s identity and age have not been released. The Horry County Coroner’s Office is expected to release more details after notifying the family and completing the investigation.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how the child ended up in the pond, but the incident remains under investigation by the Horry County Police Department.
Local residents in the Clearwater Lakes neighborhood say children often play outside in the area, and the pond—while scenic—is not fenced off. Several community members expressed their grief and concern following the tragedy.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” said one neighbor, who asked not to be named. “We see kids playing here all the time. I can’t imagine what that family is going through.”
Officials are urging parents and guardians to stay vigilant around bodies of water, especially during the summer months when children are more likely to be playing outdoors.
Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.
