A 3-year-old boy died last weekend after falling into a backyard pool in Paso Robles. [Tribune]
Justin Vargas-Smith was the only child of Brittany Vargas of Templeton and Justin Smith of Bakersfield and had just turned three in April.
On Saturday afternoon, Vargas-Smith was playing near an above-ground pool at a residence in the 100 block of Vine Street. Brittany Vargas noticed that her child had disappeared and soon found him under the solar cover of the pool. Bill Martin, a family friend, performed CPR on the toddler, and paramedics took the boy to Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton around 4:50 p.m.
A helicopter then transported Vargas-Smith to Children’s Hospital Central California, where doctors pronounced him dead at 7:47 p.m.
The Paso Robles Police Department is still investigating the death, but Lt. Tim Murphy said it appears to be a “tragic accident.”
Martin said Vargas-Smith was a friendly, funny young boy.
“He was always smiling and playing,” Martin said.
Christine Vargas will host a memorial service for her son at 4 p.m. Friday at 1217 Echo Court in Paso Robles.
