Texas Accident & Injury News
Small children must be constantly supervised in the water.
5-Year-Old Jourdanton ISD Student Drowns at a Port Aransas Beach
According to a KSAT News report, a 5-year-old boy tragically drowned at a Port Aransas beach last week.¹
Police reported the accident happened at around 5:35 p.m. Wednesday, July 22nd, at Beach Marker 46 in Port Aransas.
According to investigators, the child’s grandparents lost sight of him while preparing to leave the beach. He was later found in the water.
A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden performed CPR until EMS arrived. The child was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
He was later identified as 5-year-old Benny Arredondo, a student in Jourdanton ISD, located about 40 miles south of San Antonio.
The investigation into the drowning remains ongoing.
Did You Know?
According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, 88 children drowned across Texas in 2025.²
Why Summer Is the Most Dangerous Time for Child Drownings
Summer brings families to beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming pools across Texas. While these outings create lasting memories, they also mark the time of year when drowning tragedies increase dramatically.
Young children are naturally curious and can move surprisingly quickly. In many cases, they slip into the water unnoticed while adults are packing up, unloading gear, or simply assuming someone else is watching.
That’s why water safety requires constant attention from the moment children arrive until everyone has safely left.
Drowning Is Often Silent
Movies often portray drowning victims yelling, waving, or splashing for help.
In reality, drowning is usually quiet.
A child who is struggling to stay above the surface is often unable to call out because they are focused on breathing. They may disappear beneath the water within seconds without drawing anyone’s attention, even when other people are nearby.
This is one reason drowning accidents can happen so quickly in crowded swimming areas.
Always Designate a Water Watcher
One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of drowning is to assign one adult whose only responsibility is supervising children around the water.
A designated “water watcher” should:
- Keep their eyes on the children at all times.
- Put away phones and other distractions.
- Avoid conversations that take attention away from the water.
- Clearly transfer responsibility to another adult before stepping away.
When everyone assumes someone else is watching, children can be left unsupervised without anyone realizing it.
Beaches Present Unique Risks
Unlike swimming pools, beaches and other open-water environments change constantly.
Families should watch for hazards such as:
- Waves and strong currents
- Sudden drop-offs
- Limited underwater visibility
- Uneven footing
- Fatigue from swimming longer distances
Even children who are comfortable in a swimming pool can quickly become overwhelmed in open water.
Use Multiple Layers of Protection
There is no single safety measure that can prevent every drowning.
Instead, water safety experts recommend combining several precautions, including:
- Close (within arms reach), uninterrupted adult supervision.
- Coast Guard-approved life jackets for young children in open water.
- Age-appropriate swimming lessons.
- Learning CPR so you can respond quickly during an emergency.
Each layer provides another opportunity to prevent a tragedy. But even the most careful parents and gaurdians can be affected by a tragedy like this.
When Someone Else May Be Legally Responsible
Many drowning accidents are heartbreaking tragedies that occur despite a family’s best efforts.
However, there are situations where another person’s negligence may have contributed to what happened. Depending on the circumstances, liability could involve a property owner, a business, an organization responsible for supervising children, or another party that failed to provide reasonably safe conditions.
Determining whether negligence played a role requires a careful investigation of the specific facts surrounding the incident.
Lost a Loved One in a Drowning Accident? Call Shaw.
The loss of a child is unimaginable. If someone else’s negligence contributed to a drowning, an experienced attorney can investigate what happened, preserve important evidence, and help your family understand its legal options during an incredibly difficult time.
If your family lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses
- Medical Bills Incurred Before Death
- Loss of Financial Support
- Loss of Companionship
- Mental Anguish
- Other Wrongful Death Damages
We’ll help you find out for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 today or use our live chat to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced wrongful death attorneys. There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure—just straightforward legal guidance when you need it most.
We look forward to serving you.