SLIDELL - Police say a family gathering turned tragic after a 2-year-old drowned in a swimming pool Saturday.

According to the Slidell Police Department, officers responded to the Palm Lake Subdivision around 8 p.m. after family members found the young girl at the bottom of their pool. 

According to witnesses, the 2-year-old was out of sight for just a few seconds when she apparently fell into the pool. The family made several attempts to revive the toddler, however the girl was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital later that evening.

"This is any parents worse nightmare. Some question how something like this could happen, but we’ve seen it time and time again. Tragedy strikes so quickly…even within a few seconds, no matter how careful you are. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. They will need all the support they can get during this difficult time,” said Randy Fandal with Slidell Police. 

Police say the situation appeared to be a terrible accident, but added that the coroner has not officially determined the cause of death.