Phoenix toddler nearly drowns after using doggy door to get to pool

A toddler nearly drowned at his home in Phoenix on Monday afternoon when he crawled out of his family home’s doggy door and into the pool.

The 18-month-old was coughing up water after making it into the pool at his home near Thunderbird Road and 40th Street about 2:30 p.m. He was taken to a local hospital in case he had water in his lungs, according to Deputy Frank Salomon with the Phoenix Fire Department.

“This happens a lot,” Salomon said. “Parents forget that (doggy doors) are an avenue for kids crawling around and they forget to properly secure the house.”