Brooklyn Borough President, Nonprofit Urge Swimming Safety After Drowning

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In the wake of the drowning death of a toddler in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and a nonprofit swimming education group have joined together to urge proper water safety.

As 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported, swimming spots around Brooklyn will be getting visits in the next few days from Adams and Swim Strong, which offers low-cost swimming lessons.

Swim Strong co-founder Shawn Slevin said the group will be reaching out to children.

"We know how hot New Yorkers get, and it's just tempting to take a little dip in the water, whichever water is near," Slevin said.

She said if there is not a lifeguard present or swimming allowed, the temptation to swim should be resisted.

Adams said the drowning of a 2-year-old over the weekend in Prospect Park gives parents a reason to have a conversation with little ones.

"I doubt if any parent that goes to Prospect Park instructs their children that this is a lake here – be careful – because we take it for granted as parents," Adams said.

But he said it should be like warning children about stranger danger.

This past Saturday, Ruhshona Kurbonova's mother was apparently distracted while barbecuing in Prospect Park when she lost track of the little girl and her 4-year-old brother around 2 p.m.

Hours after their disappearance, divers located Ruhshona's body and pulled her out of the water.

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• Sonia Rincon
• Eric Adams