A heartbreaking incident unfolded when a one-year-old girl tragically drowned after her father dozed off while holding her in a hot tub during a family trip in Florida, authorities reported.

The tragic event occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 13 in Kissimmee, a short drive from Orlando, at an Airbnb rental where Reynard Tyrone Hough, 33, was staying with his daughter, Azariah, and family. The family had traveled from Washington D.C. to enjoy a vacation in the Sunshine State.

According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Hough was holding Azariah in the 37-inch-deep hot tub when he fell asleep for about 15 to 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the child, who could not swim, slipped from her father’s grasp during this time.

Upon waking, Hough found Azariah unresponsive. In a panic, he pulled her from the water and began CPR while her mother urgently called emergency services.

Azariah was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead around 4:30 a.m., as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.

Hugh later admitted he was drinking alcohol that night. He also told police he ingested two different narcotics before getting in the water with his daughter, WESH-TV reported. 

Detectives have since determined he was negligent in the death of his daughter as the substance likely contributed to his falling asleep, authorities said.  

He was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm and manslaughter by aggravated abuse of a child, according to jail records reviewed by the Daily Mail. 

One-year-old Azariah Hough tragically drowned after her father fell asleep while holding her in a hot tub in Florida, according to police 

The baby’s father, Reynard Tyrone Hough, 33, eventually told police he was drinking and ingested two narcotics before entering the hot tub (pictured) with Azariah 

A $15,000 bond has been set for the child neglect charge, but he was not granted bond for the serious felony offence. 

He remains locked up inside the Osceola County Jail, and the fatal incident remains under investigation. 

Angel Hugh, the father’s sister, said he is ‘so distraught and tore up’ over the tragic incident. 

‘It’s very hard losing a niece this way and then we have so much hurt for my brother because he’s just so distraught and tore up,’ she told the outlet. 

Speaking of her niece, Angel said: ‘She will be missed, and especially just seeing her little butt running around. I just can’t believe it’s almost Christmas and this happened.’ 

Captain Kim Montes with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office stressed how dangerous it can be for children to be around water. 

‘Children and water can be so dangerous, and the parents’ job is to make sure that all eyes are on them, focused, not under the influence, so that they can keep their kids safe,’ she told the outlet. 

Montes also revealed that Hugh and the baby’s mother had another young child at home when the drowning occurred. 

Detectives have since determined he was negligent in the death of his daughter, as the substances likely contributed to his falling asleep

Hugh is seen with her late daughter in an undated picture. At the time of the tragedy, Azariah’s mother was trying to get her six-month-old sister to go to bed, police said 

‘I feel bad for this mom and dad. We know they were devastated. They had another six-month-old child there, in the room with mom, that she was trying to put down,’ Montes said. 

‘So we know that watching two small kids is a challenge.’ 

Azariah has been remembered as a ‘real talker’ who adored her Bluey toy, her obituary read. 

She leaves behind her older brother, younger sister, mother, and countless loving family members. 

Her body is set to be transported back to her family in Maryland, according to a GoFundMe page. 

Azariah has been remembered as a ‘real talker’ who adored her Bluey toy, her obituary read

Hugh was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm and manslaughter by aggravated abuse of a child

The donation website was set up to help Azariah’s mother during this challenging time. 

‘Azariah was a sweet, loving, joyful, and charismatic little girl,’ the page read, adding that the baby was on her first family trip to Florida, where they were supporting her brother in his basketball championship game. 

‘Azariah lit up every room she entered. She had just become a big sister seven months ago and adored her siblings with all her heart,’ the organizer wrote.

As of Sunday afternoon, nearly $3,400 had been raised.