Death of 5-year-old boy ruled accidental

SASKATOON Saskatchewan’s office of the chief coroner is recommending a review of how students are supervised during recess following the drowning death of a fiveyear-old boy last fall.

Kindergarten student Ahmedsadiq Hussein Elmmi was found in a pond in a park near Ecole Dundonald School in Saskatoon on Sept. 11 after the morning break. The boy was pronounced dead in hospital.

The coroner’s office said Wednesday the death was accidental and no inquest will be held.

The office made a number of recommendations to Saskatoon Public Schools, Mayor Charlie Clark, city manager Jeff Jorgenson and to the province’s lifesaving society, which advocates for water safety.

Students with special needs should be part of any review into recess supervision, the office suggested.

Staff at a daycare Anmedsadiq attended said he was autistic and needed to be watched closely. An imam who was called to the school after the accident said the Muslim boy’s attendant had told him the tragedy happened in seconds.

“The safety of all Saskatchewan students is always our government’s first priority,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant said in a statement. “The ministry will review the findings and recommendations ... and, if requested, will help with any necessary safety improvements.”

The coroner’s office also called for future ponds be located away from schools, for increased water safety education and for additional barriers around ponds near schools.

A call to city Coun. Troy Davies, whose ward contains the school, was not immediately returned. Saskatoon Public Schools planned to release an internal report into Ahmedsadiq’s death later Wednesday before holding a news conference.