Tragedy after boy, 4, was spotted 'flailing and sinking' in hotel swimming pool during family vacation to Myrtle Beach

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 02:48, 1 May 2026 | Updated: 03:03, 1 May 2026 A four-year-old boy was seen struggling to swim at a hotel in South Carolina before his body was pulled from the pool on a family's vacation to Myrtle Beach.  Lauchlin McMann was pronounced dead on Monday after he was pulled out of a swimming pool in North Beach Plantation on April 21.  Lauchlin and his family had been on vacation from their home in Palmyra, Maine.   The four-year-old was seen on security footage reviewed by police 'flailing' in the pool while surrounded by other playing children at around 7.53pm, The Post and Courier reported.  Lauchlin then sank under the water before an employee pulled him out around four minutes later.  North Myrtle Beach Police arrived just minutes later as a bystander was performing CPR on the little boy, according to the outlet.  He was then transported to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center by emergency services.   An investigation into the drowning remains ongoing.  Lauchlin McMann, 4, was pronounced dead on Monday after he was pulled out of a swimming pool in North Beach Plantation on April 21 The four-year-old, pictured on the right with his two siblings, was seen on security footage 'flailing' in the pool while surrounded by other playing children at around 7.53pm Lauchlin, seen left, then sank under the water before an employee pulled him out around four minutes later. North Myrtle Beach Police arrived as a bystander performed CPR on the boy Lauchlin is remembered by his family as a 'bright spirit' with a 'loving nature,' who leaves behind his mother and father, Ashley and Justin, and siblings, Parker, 8, and Hudson, 7 'What was meant to be a joyful time together turned into a heartbreaking tragedy,' Lauchlin's grandmother, Dawn McMann, wrote on a GoFundMe. 'Lauchlin, our sweet and loving little boy, was involved in a terrible accident.' According to the fundraiser, Lauchlin was taken to a local hospital before he was airlifted to a children's hospital in South Carolina and surrounded by his family and grandparents who flew in to be by his side.  'Lauchlin was truly cherished by everyone who knew him,' the fundraiser continued.   'His bright spirit and loving nature touched so many lives. Today, our hearts are shattered as we share that Lauchlin has earned his wings.' Dawn McMann said the boy's passing is 'unimaginable' and their family is 'struggling to come to terms with it.' The fundraiser garnered more than $44,500 in donations as of Thursday evening.  Lauchlin left behind his mother and father, Ashley and Justin, and two siblings, Parker, 8, and Hudson, 7.   The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 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.