Sheriff's office says 2-year-old girl pulled from Clayton pond has died

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Friday, May 26, 2017
Girl dies after being pulled from Clayton pond
A 2-year-old girl died after she was pulled from a pond in Johnston County.

CLAYTON, North Carolina (WTVD) -- The Johnston County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a 2-year-old girl died after she was pulled from a pond on Thursday evening.

The sheriff's office confirmed the child died despite the rescue efforts.

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The incident was reported just before 6 p.m. at the Riverwood Golf Club, the sheriff's office said, on Marcellus Way in the Riverwood community off Loop Road near Clayton.

The Johnston County Sheriff's Office said the child apparently walked out the front door of her home undetected by her parents.

A golfer who went to retrieve a ball spotted the girl face down in the pond and jumped in the water to try to save the girl. He also yelled for others nearby to dial 911.

The child's identity was not immediately released.

"There will be no criminal charges in this case," Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell told WTSB News on Friday. "This is a parent's worst nightmare. Our thoughts and prayers are with this family."

The pond was about 100 yards from the family's home. Bizzell said the incident has also impacted his officers who responded to the scene.

"Anytime our detectives investigate a child's death it tugs at the hearts of investigators," the sheriff said.

It was the second water death involving a 2-year-old child Thursday.

Earlier, a Cumberland County toddler died after he was pulled from a swimming pool behind a family home Thursday morning.

That incident happened around 8:20 a.m. in the 800 block of Alexwood Drive, off Elk Road in Hope Mills.

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