A couple from Wesley Chapel is crediting some quick-thinking neighbors for springing into action to provide life-saving aid to help save a drowning toddler and raising awareness about pool safety after a frightening experience with their 19-month-old daughter, who was found unresponsive in their backyard pool.
Home security footage shows David Zanvardine frantically calling for help from his neighbors after pulling his daughter, Zoey, from the pool. Meanwhile, his wife, Tamara, called 911 and immediately began performing CPR.
The couple revealed that the gate around their pool had not been functioning correctly. “What we think happened, she was in the playhouse, the gate does not close properly that we learned and she was able to get her fingers in and open it. There was a little orange basketball that was spinning in one of our waterfalls in the pool and I think that caught her attention and she went and got it and she fell in,” David told news sources.
The incident occurred on August 6 at their Wesley Chapel, FL residence. Two neighbors quickly came to their aid, administering life-saving measures.
“We had an Army veteran who lived across the street who came pretty immediately and then an ER nurse in our neighborhood responded as well. We were just so thankful they heard the cries of help from my husband. They came over, took over CPR and they had a greater skill set than my husband or I and were in a better state of mind,” Tamara told news sources.
Emergency responders from Pasco County arrived and airlifted the toddler to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa. Zoey spent two nights in the intensive care unit, but doctors now believe she has made a full recovery.
Reflecting on the incident, Tamara told news sources, “It happened so fast that we never expected this to happen to us. We have a pool gate. We have gates all over the house. They’ve had 6 to 7 swim lessons in our pool. We thought we did everything right and it still happened to us.”
Grateful for the quick response of paramedics and neighbors, the couple is now sharing their story to raise awareness about pool safety. In addition to installing a pool alarm, they plan to enroll Zoey and her older brother in survival swim lessons with the Water Smart Tots Foundation.
“I wish we had done survival swim lessons. We didn’t. We are enrolled to do survival swim right now which is a type of training where they learn the type of skills to float, turn upside down versus standard swim lessons which she had,” Tamara explained.
The Water Smart Tots Foundation, which offers scholarships for self-rescue swimming lessons, has provided $41,160 worth of lessons since January 2024. However, there is still a waiting list for families seeking financial assistance due to limited funding.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and four. “That’s the scary thing with a toddler or with a child, drowning can happen in seconds and I just never expected that to happen and then when my husband jumped in the pool I was shocked, but I knew it happened to us,” Tamara told news sources.
Reflecting on the experience, she added, “It’s changed my life. I think it puts in perspective that I can’t take anything for granted…I’ve learned that people are so genuinely good, the kindness that our neighborhood has shown, and friends, family, and strangers. I just learned that you do need people especially at a time of need and I’ve learned that miracles happen.”
For those interested in supporting the Water Smart Tots Foundation, more information is available online.
