**While Albert joked on Facebook ‘baby gates only work when you close them,’**

A hero dad bolted over a 4-foot fence to save his son

A fast-reacting Florida father reaction goes viral

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Albert Passavanti, and his family were lounging by the pool in Palm Beach County, Florida on a sunny Sunday when something terrifying happened in June 2019.

As Passavanti’s toddler son, Rocco, is seen in the surveillance footage running to the shiny and colorful beach ball, falling into the pool as he reaches for it. The 1.5-year-old doesn’t know how to swim.

When Passavanti saw his son was in danger, he jumped to his feet, bolted over a 4-foot fence, and dove into the water.

The father’s quick thinking and reflexes saved his son’s life.

“The second you see it; you get Superman strength and just have to go for it, whatever you got to do,” he said. “It didn’t even cross my mind to go around. It was point A to point B.”

Heroic Dad Dives Over Fence to Rescue Toddler in Pool

“Rocco is getting faster and more daring so us parents are stepping up our preventative measures including swim lessons,” Passavanti said.

He said the gate is always shut unless there is a capable adult present.

“But can’t stress enough, nothing is as effective as watching your kids very closely,” he said.

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death among children between 1 and 4, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In 2017, almost 1,000 children in the US drowned, a 2019 AAP study said.

The AAP urges parents to be within an arm’s length when young children are around or in water. Parents should avoid becoming distracted by other activities such as cellphone use or drinking alcohol. Caregivers should also consider learning CPR, teaching their children water-safety skills, and putting life jackets on their kids, the AAP says.

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