At the Island Club apartment complex in Columbus, an unsuspecting danger took the life of a two-year-old child.  

   The young boy fell into one of the many ponds that surrounded the apartment and were pulled out of the water in critical condition. Neighbors of the boy attempted to save him but failed to find a pulse. Firefighters were called around 3 p.m. and rushed him to Nationwide Children’s hospital. About an hour later, at 4:11 p.m., he passed away.

  Although this tragedy seems like a freak accident, he was the third child to drown in a pond at a Columbus apartment complex in the span of just two months. These events have brought awareness to parents that live in apartment complexes and questions have arised in concern of their children’s safety. Many people believe that these ponds should be surrounded by fences to avoid deadly consequences.

  According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Columbus City code states that fencing is required around both public and private pools but there is no condition that calls for fencing around ponds. The requirement of fencing for ponds may seem like an easy, simple solution but the price concerns of this installation make the situation much more complicated.

   “Even if the City Council decided to pass something, it would be very difficult, maybe impossible, to do something retroactively,” said Tony Celebrezze, the deputy director of the Columbus Building and Zoning Services Department, in an interview with Columbus Dispatch.

  Despite the fact that some complexes may add fencing, it would be tedious to ensure that every complex follows that protocol.