Young boy drowns at Liberty County water park

DAYTON, TX (KTRK) -- A 2-year-old boy drowned Saturday at a Liberty County water park.

It happened around 5:20pm at the Nine Mile Lake Water Park at 756 County Road 650 in Dayton.

According to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, a family was on an outing there when the boy was reported missing. The boy's parents had been circling the lake calling for their son as well as using a public address system to get his attention.

The body of the child was later discovered in the lake. He was brought to the beach where CPR was started but the boy didn't make it. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbors here tell us that Nine Mile is not fit for children.

"There's no way I would take my babies in here. Children are coming out here and being dropped off and left. And then it's just expected that someone will just watch your children with no lifeguard whatsoever; and everybody drinking and having a good old time with children running around," said nearby resident Gary Noack.

The investigation is continuing by the sheriff's office however, at this point, it appears the drowning was a tragic accident. An autopsy is ordered in this case.

Authorities confirm another drowning happened at the same location several months ago.