Boy drowned in backyard pond

Sound Beach, NY (SmithtownRadio.com) – The family of a Smithtown teacher is mourning the loss of their 22-month-old boy after a drowning in a backyard pond in Sound Beach Saturday.

Suffolk County police and emergency medical personnel were called  to 25 Crane Neck Drive after Richard Specht found his son not breathing and unresponsive. The boy had fallen into a backyard pond, police say. Specht, who works at Great Hollow Middle School in Nesconset, performed CPR before Sound Beach Rescue personnel transported the boy to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. The child was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Suffolk County Police Homicide Section is investigating the incident, although at this time the drowning appears to be accidental.