The recent drowning deaths of 5-year-old twin sisters at a vacation rental home near Orlando have shocked families across Florida and the nation. According to authorities, the young girls were found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a short-term rental property in Kissimmee, just south of Orlando. Despite emergency efforts and transportation to a local hospital, both children tragically passed away. Investigators have indicated the deaths appear to be accidental drownings.

Reports indicate the family had traveled from Georgia for a vacation. Investigators stated that adults left the rental property to obtain groceries while a teenager remained at the home. At some point, the twins gained access to the pool area and were later discovered in the water. Authorities are reportedly examining pool safety measures, including whether barriers and safety gates were properly secured.

Our hearts go out to the family, loved ones, first responders, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.

Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of child drowning deaths. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for young children in the state. Many incidents occur in residential swimming pools, vacation rentals, retention ponds, canals, and other bodies of water.

The Kissimmee and Osceola County area — with its dense concentration of vacation rental homes, resort communities, and short-term rental properties — is one of Florida's highest-risk regions for pool drownings. Thousands of families travel to this corridor every week, often staying in homes they have never visited before, with pools they are unfamiliar with and safety equipment they have never inspected.

While no amount of compensation can undo the devastating loss of a child, investigations into these tragedies often focus on whether reasonable safety measures were in place and whether the incident could have been prevented.

The Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (§515.23–515.33, Fla. Stat.) requires every residential pool to be protected by at least one approved safety barrier:

• An enclosure at least 4 feet high that completely surrounds the pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate
• A safety pool cover meeting ASTM F1346 standards
• An exit alarm on all doors providing direct pool access
• A door alarm on all doors providing direct pool access

Violation of the Pool Safety Act is evidence of negligence per se — meaning a violation of the law can itself establish the property owner's negligence without requiring additional proof of unreasonable conduct.

Commercial and vacation rental pools may also be subject to Florida Department of Health regulations (64E-9, Fla. Admin. Code) and local Osceola County building codes governing pool enclosures, gate hardware, and barrier height.

When these safety measures are missing, defective, or improperly maintained, serious questions arise regarding the legal responsibility of the property owner, management company, and others involved in the rental.

Florida's Attractive Nuisance Doctrine holds that a property owner may be liable for injuries to a child — even a child who was not supposed to be in the pool area — when the pool poses an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury to children who, because of their youth, cannot appreciate the danger.

Young children are drawn to water. A pool that is accessible because a gate latch is broken, a fence panel is missing, or a door alarm is disabled is a foreseeable hazard — particularly in a vacation rental setting where families with young children are the intended guests.

Every drowning case is unique. Determining legal responsibility requires a thorough investigation of the facts, including:

• Whether pool barriers complied with Florida law and local building codes
• Whether safety gates functioned properly and were self-closing and self-latching
• Whether prior incidents or complaints occurred at the property
• Whether the property owner or management company knew of dangerous conditions
• Whether safety equipment was defective, missing, or improperly maintained
• Whether the vacation rental listing accurately described pool safety features

Vacation rental properties often involve multiple parties who may share responsibility, including:

• Property owners — who have a duty to maintain safe conditions
• Property management companies — who may control maintenance, inspections, and safety compliance
• Maintenance contractors — who may have installed or serviced pool barriers
• Booking platforms — whose policies and safety standards may be relevant
• Insurers — who may have conducted property inspections

An experienced Florida drowning attorney can identify all potentially responsible parties and pursue every available avenue of recovery.

In many drowning cases, investigators and attorneys examine:

• Surveillance video from the property and surrounding areas
• Property inspection records and maintenance logs
• Building code compliance history and permit records
• Witness statements from family members, neighbors, and first responders
• Prior complaints or incidents involving the property
• Pool barrier and enclosure design, hardware condition, and installation records
• Booking platform communications and property listings

An experienced attorney may also work with aquatic safety experts, structural engineers, and code compliance professionals to determine whether safety failures contributed to the tragedy.

When a child dies as a result of another party's negligence, Florida's Wrongful Death Act (§768.16–768.26, Fla. Stat.) allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for:

• The mental pain and suffering of parents and siblings
• Loss of companionship and guidance
• Medical and funeral expenses
• Lost future earnings and support

Florida's statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 2 years from the date of death. Families who believe negligence may have contributed to a drowning should consult with an attorney as soon as possible — evidence can disappear quickly, and early investigation is critical.

If this tragedy teaches us anything, it is that drowning prevention requires constant vigilance from everyone involved — parents, caregivers, property owners, management companies, and communities.

When a property owner or vacation rental operator fails to maintain the safety barriers required by Florida law, children pay the price. Florida law exists precisely to prevent these tragedies. When it is violated, accountability matters — not only for the affected family, but to protect every family that rents that property in the future.

Juan Cordero Lawyers investigates drowning accidents involving:

• Swimming pools at vacation rental properties
• Apartment complexes and HOA communities
• Hotels and resorts
• Retention ponds and canals
• Water parks and recreational facilities
• Negligent supervision claims

If your family has suffered a drowning or near-drowning incident, our firm can help investigate whether negligence contributed to the tragedy and whether legal remedies may be available.

For a free consultation, contact Juan Cordero Lawyers. There is no fee unless we recover for you.