Adorable little boy, 3, drowns in family pool despite wearing life vest after caregivers made one crucial mistake

By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 20:10, 19 June 2026 | Updated: 20:10, 19 June 2026 A three-year-old boy has died by drowning in his family swimming pool after his life vest was not properly fastened.  James Joseph Farland Jr died Sunday at a home in Bleckley County, Georgia, and a coroner ruled his death was accidental.  Coroner Michael Francis said the child was wearing a life vest, but it was not secured between his legs.  He said this allowed the boy to slide into a dangerous position underwater, which proved fatal.  'It's a freak accident,' Francis told local media outlets.  His devastated parents have launched a GoFundMe page to cover his funeral costs.  'My son tragically drowned in a pool, and we lost him far too soon,' his father, James Farland, wrote on the page.  'This heartbreaking accident has changed our lives forever. My wife, myself, and our entire family are struggling to come to terms with his loss.  A three-year-old boy has died by drowning in his family swimming pool after his life vest was not properly fastened. James Joseph Farland Jr, who died on Sunday, is pictured above The little boy attended Bleckley County Primary School, which paid tribute to him online 'It's just not right that he is gone now, and the pain we feel is overwhelming.  'We miss him every day, and the emptiness left behind is something we never imagined we would have to face.' The boy's school, Bleckley County Primary School, also issued a statement about his death.  'Our hearts are broken over the loss of sweet James, one of our precious little ones in our Project Step classroom at Bleckley Primary School,' the school wrote.  'His beautiful smile, joyful spirit, and precious personality brought happiness to everyone around him.  'James was dearly loved by his teacher Christina Herrington Murray, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. 'There are simply no words to ease the pain of such a tragic loss. We grieve alongside his loved ones and pray that they find comfort and strength in the days ahead.' Coroner Michael Francis said the child was wearing a life vest, but it was not secured between his legs. He said this allowed the boy to slide into a dangerous position underwater Bleckley County Sheriff's Office warned parents to make sure their children are wearing properly-fitted US Coast Guard approved life vests.  They advised checking that all straps are secured before the child enters the water.  'Please use this tragic event as a reminder to be extra vigilant with pool safety around children,' the Bleckley County sheriff said.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.