Deputy Saves Drowning 3-Year-Old at Splash Harbour

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FL — An off-duty Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy enjoying an afternoon at a water park Saturday is officially a lifesaver.

According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Habib Hanze was at Splash Harbour Water Park, 321 2nd St. in Indian Rocks Beach, just before 5 p.m. Saturday. As Hanze was enjoying some downtime, he heard people yelling for help.

Hanze answered the calls and found Michael Andrews, 3, of St. Petersburg unresponsive in a pool, an email from the sheriff’s office said. Hanze and others pulled the boy from the park’s lazy river area and Hanze began CPR.

“Hanze continued with CPR until he successfully resuscitated Andrews,” the email said.

Deputies say the little boy’s mother, Janesha Simmons, 23, had lost sight of him for a few minutes. She thought another family member was keeping an eye on him, the email said.

Deputies say there is no evidence of negligence or foul play in the incident.

No further details are available at this time.

Splash Harbour features a number of water attractions, including a 42-foot slide. The park’s Great White Lazy River is a 600-foot-long attraction with waterfalls, sprays and mists, according to the park’s website.

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