Boy drowns after falling into dam

Guide saves two other pupils who slipped from raft

Police are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy who drowned after falling from a raft into a dam at the Lucky Linton Farm, north of Durban, during a school outing yesterday.

The boy‚ who has yet to be named‚ was one of three children who had fallen into the water while being ferried across the dam at the popular venue in Umhlahli.

Two other children were pulled from the water by the guide who was steering the raft‚ with the third boy remaining submerged for about 10 minutes.

Why the children were not wearing life jackets at the time of their waterborne jaunt is expected to be the central focus of the police probe.

Police spokesman Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed that an inquest docket had been registered.

IPSS Medical Rescue spokesman Paul Herbst confirmed that the children had not been wearing flotation devices.

“Witnesses say that eight children had been taken around the dam on the raft by a guide from the facility‚ when three children fell off the raft into the water.

“Two of the three children were pulled out of the water by the guide that leapt in to save them‚ while the third remained submerged for approximately 10 minutes‚” Herbst said.

The child was declared dead at the scene.

Provincial department of education spokesman Kwazi Mthethwa said that an investigation into the events leading to the death of the child had been launched.

“Everyone in the department of education feels the loss of a child and our prayers go to the family and to Lee Primary School during this difficult time,” he said.

“We hope that an investigation will be able to reveal more information‚ including whether the deceased and his other schoolmates were indeed wearing life jackets or not.”

A woman‚ who would only give her name as Anne‚ confirmed that she was the owner of the farm.

She refused to comment on whether the children had been wearing life jackets‚ saying that she needed to speak to her attorney first.