Bridgeport officials marked a somber anniversary by issuing an urgent safety warning to the public.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim visited the North End Saturday, one year after 2-year-old Skylar Perry fell into a backyard pool at a family friend's home on May Street. The toddler later died at Yale New Haven Hospital.

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anim says somber images of the rescue are a stark reminder of how close at hand death can be, especially by the water during the summer months.

In honor of the toddler, the city is reissuing a former warning to the public to use extreme caution when near the water – a warning that comes on the heels of several recent drownings across the state.

"A year ago, a 2-year-old was lost. Two weeks ago in Stratford a person was lost. In Hartford two weeks ago as well," said Ganim.

The mayor says each and every one of those cases brought him back to a very personal experience. He says he once had to dive into his pool to save his daughter who ended up in the water.

“I know how quickly it can happen. It's the blink of an eye," said the mayor.

Officials say people should always swim with a buddy and only in areas where a lifeguard is on duty.