The drowning appears accidental, according to Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies.

PALM HARBOR – Deputies are investigating the drowning of a 2-year-old boy who was found floating Wednesday (July 12) in a residential pool in Palm Harbor.

Robert Kibitlewski, 2, of Palm Harbor was found about 6:19 p.m. Deputies said Robert had been with his grandmother, Janice Kibitlewski, 48, in the front yard of their home on Sugar Bear Trail. She lost sight of the child while she was collecting her mail.

She went inside to check with Robert’s mother, Rachelle Kibitlewski, 26, who confirmed that Robert never came inside the house. Family members began searching the neighborhood and notified deputies at 6:12 p.m., about 15 minutes after they noticed he was missing.

As deputies were arriving, Janice Kibitlewski found Robert unresponsive and floating in a neighbor’s pool on Windridge Oaks Drive. She pulled Robert out of the pool and performed CPR until deputies and paramedics arrived.

Robert was transported to Mease Countryside Hospital with life threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the hospital about 6:57 p.m.

Detectives say the drowning appears accidental.

For information about the Pinellas sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.

Pinellas County Sheriff | Child Drowns | Robert Kibitlewski | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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