Recent child drowning brings back grief for Port Charlotte ‘Twins Tot Walk’ founder

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- WINK News is working to learn new details about a little boy’s drowning death on Thursday.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says deputies found the 6-year-old boy unconscious in the pool at a home on Rome Street.

Paramedics rushed him to the hospital late Thursday evening where he was pronounced dead.

Police say there was an adult home at the time, but it was not either of the boy’s parents. Authorities have not released many details as the investigation continues.

Paul Demello knows the grief that child’s family is feeling tonight.

“It was almost like I was putting them before my own loss and grief. Definitely my heart is heavy.”

Five years ago today, Demello’s twin 13-month-old boys drowned.

In 2010, Joshua and Christian Demello broke through the baby gate, crawled into their grandparents’ lanai and made their way to the pool.

“It’s a journey that I don’t wish on anyone, and I hope they try to take this tragedy and make it a testimony or create message to help save others.”

Demello used his pain to form an organization, against children drowning.

Friday is the organization’s annual Twins Tot Walk, on the anniversary of his boys’ death. With Thursday night’s drowning happening so close to where Demello lives, he wonders if his efforts have made a difference at all.

“Five years of effort and I kind of feel like a little failure. I feel like just against children drowning took a step back, yesterday, I believe Charlotte County took a step back yesterday.”