THE Southernwood community was left shattered following the drowning of a six- year-old boy in the Southernwood Primary School pool yesterday morning.
Although an ambulance was called to the scene there was allegedly a delay in it arriving while members of the BCM fire brigade who arrived allegedly declined to assist with CPR.
Shantell van der Westhuizen said she had been driving past the school when she saw Christian sitting in the school grounds, crying.
“She told me her child had drowned.”
Van der Westhuizen said Damian had been “foaming” at the mouth when he was brought out of the water. A community member eventually took the child to hospital in his vehicle only to meet up with Dynamic Ambulance on the way.
Paramedics said they tried to resuscitate the boy, but their attempts failed and he died.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene residents were standing around in shock at the news of the boy’s death.
Some residents spoken to said children from the suburb sometimes climbed over or under the fence and swam in the pool during the school holidays.
“I really don’t know what happened,” said Christian. “I was looking for him the whole time, but when I crossed the road , I saw someone there in the pool, so I screamed.”
Damian did not usually wander off on his own, the mother said. “I can’t describe how I feel. I’m very, very heartbroken.”
Police have opened an inquest docket into the matter. —
Boy, 6, drowns in EL school pool
Although an ambulance was called to the scene there was allegedly a delay in it arriving while members of the BCM fire brigade who arrived allegedly declined to assist with CPR.
Shantell van der Westhuizen said she had been driving past the school when she saw Christian sitting in the school grounds, crying.
“She told me her child had drowned.”
Van der Westhuizen said Damian had been “foaming” at the mouth when he was brought out of the water. A community member eventually took the child to hospital in his vehicle only to meet up with Dynamic Ambulance on the way.
Paramedics said they tried to resuscitate the boy, but their attempts failed and he died.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene residents were standing around in shock at the news of the boy’s death.
Some residents spoken to said children from the suburb sometimes climbed over or under the fence and swam in the pool during the school holidays.
“I really don’t know what happened,” said Christian. “I was looking for him the whole time, but when I crossed the road , I saw someone there in the pool, so I screamed.”
Damian did not usually wander off on his own, the mother said. “I can’t describe how I feel. I’m very, very heartbroken.”
Police have opened an inquest docket into the matter. —
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