JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville family is mourning the death of a 3-year-old boy whose body was found in a body of water near an Orlando-area resort Thursday.
Sheriff’s deputies confirmed the toddler, identified as Rakim Akbari, had autism and wandered from a resort on Palm Village Circle, near State Road 535 and World Center Drive.
Akbari is the latest child to drown in Florida.
A family friend told News4JAX that Akbari was vacationing with his father when he wandered away.
Akbari’s death further highlights a recurring tragedy in Florida, children with autism drowning.
A study by Children’s Services Council Palm Beach County completed in April found since Jan. 1, 2021, at least 63 children with autism or children suspected of having autism have drowned in Florida. The number has increased in the months since the study. Equally alarming, the Autism Society of Florida said a child with autism is 160 times more likely to drown than children without autism.
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Leah Othmer is a community health educator for Wolfson Children’s Hospital and coordinator for Safe Kids Northeast Florida.
“Devastation every time,” Othmer said. “A lot of it seems obviously, drownings are usually preventable, so it’s hard to grasp how this happens continuously over and over again. But every circumstance is different.”
Autism Society Florida reported 50% of children with autism wander, and nearly all gravitate toward water. It goes on to report that 32% of parents of children with autism report they’ve had a drowning “close call” with their child. Othmer said it’s important to understand that, while there isn’t a known cause, children with autism tend to be more drawn to water.
“Children with autism seem to be infatuated with the ripples in water, the smell of water, even,” Othmer said. “Everything that has to do with water more than their neuro-typical peers do.”
Othmer said this is why it’s so important to pay extra close attention to children. Extra safeguards can also make a huge difference including door alarms, pool alarms, and specialized door locks. Parents can shop for these items at local and online retailers.
Othmer said it’s always a good time to remind parents that it’s never too early to enroll your child in swim lessons.
“Just learning how to swim, the five survival tips of swimming, how to get to the edge if you accidentally fall in,” Othmer said. “Things like that. Those are all included in swim lessons.”
If you’re traveling with a child with autism, Othmer also suggested bringing your own life jacket your child may already be familiar with, request a hotel room that is not close to water, if possible. If booking a room not close to water isn’t an option, it’s important to check with hotel staff to learn exactly where bodies of water are located on the property. Othmer said it’s always important to remember drowning can happen in an instant.
“Drowning can happen in under 30 seconds in just two inches of water,” Othmer said. “So, it’s really, really important that all parents and caregivers learn CPR, especially if their child has autism.”
A list of Florida swim schools with autism experience and other information on driving prevention can be found on this website.