It happened so quickly, and with six adults on deck, all decent swimmers and one a former lifeguard.

My three oldest granddaughters had tried to get me into the pool, but it was too cold.

The temperature didn’t stop them, and soon they were jumping in, swimming around, and playing with pool toys.

I joined a nearby conversation, leaving my daughter Monique (who was holding six-month-old Caroline) to guard the girls.

When I turned back toward the pool, Caroline was seated on the deck and Monique was in the water, fully clothed.

“Monique decided to go swimming,” I said.

“She’s not swimming!” my daughter Elise shouted. “She getting Charlie!”

Four-year-old Charlie had been playing on a ledge in the pool, took a wrong step, and went underwater. It was swift, silent, and scary.

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, last year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 148 children drowned.

One of those tragedies was the accidental death of three-year-old Levi Hughes while the family vacationed in Fort Morgan, Alabama.

His mother Nicole wrote, “I was the one who found him, face down, in the deep end. Just moments before this horrific discovery, I split a brownie with him. I still had the other half of the brownie in my mouth when I jumped into the pool to grab my son.”

“We had six physicians on our trip, including my own husband,” Hughes continued. “If Levi could have been saved by desperation, skill, and love, he would still be here. I want 30 seconds back on June 10.”

I am deeply grateful that Charlie was grabbed from the pool in time. It was a sober reminder of how quickly accidents happen.. May we all stay on guard and enjoy a safe summer.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.