The atmosphere on Ocean Avenue in Devonshire yesterday was solemn as neighbours and friends of the Sylvester family tried to come to grips with the drowning of 13-month-old Christopher Jack Sylvester, Jr. on Wednesday night.

The Sylvester family were not home when called, but their housekeeper, who was visibly upset, said she did not know ?Jack? ? as the little boy was fondly called ? had drowned until she called her daughter.

She said there were so many people at the house when she arrived yesterday morning, but no one told her what was going on.

?He was such a beautiful little boy,? she said, adding that he was not an only child.

A red child?s tricycle and a variety of colourful toys lay in the front garden of the immaculate house on Ocean Avenue.

One neighbour attempted to speak to said she knew the family and was shocked to hear what happened, especially since he was such a ?beautiful? child.

She said her son, who is also a fireman, was home at the time and heard the screams for help.

?He ran over there and performed CPR,? she said, not willing to disclose any names or further details until she had spoken to the Sylvester family.

Police spokesman Robin Simmons said Police attended the call at the Devonshire home at about 8.35 p.m.

?It appears that the baby was found in the pool in an unresponsive state by a family member, who pulled the child from the water and brought him inside the home,? he said.

He also confirmed that a neighbour performed CPR on the child until the paramedics arrived.

Mr. Simmons said the little boy was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9.20 p.m. by an on-call physician.

He is the second child to drown in the last four months. On February 23, three-year-old Jason Bell drowned in a neighbours? swimming pool on Whitney Avenue, Pembroke.

The Sylvester family were not available for comment last night.