This is a press release courtesy of the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office

A 3-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool early Thursday evening.

Colby Rice was playing in the yard of his home in the 300 block of Clark Creek Road. His parents, 26-year-old Michael Rice and 25-year-old Stacey Peterson, were talking with friends while the boy was riding his electric scooter in the back yard. A few minutes later, the boy's mother went to check on him and did not see him in the yard. She looked around, then saw him on the bottom of their above-ground swimming pool. After getting him out of the pool they immediately began CPR and called 911.

Sheriff's deputies arrived along with aid personnel. The aid crew immediately took over CPR and valiantly worked to revive the boy.

"The aid crew from Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue worked passionately and professionally attempting to revive the boy and avert this tragedy. I have great admiration for their efforts to save this little boy's life. Sadly, they were unsuccessful," said Cowlitz County Sheriff's Captain Mark Nelson.

The boy was transferred by ambulance to St. John Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The body was turned over to the Cowlitz County Coroner for further investigation.