Inquest into death of drowned boy, aged 7

Police open inquest into the drowning death of a seven-year-old boy.

Police are looking for answers to questions such as why the boy went to the dam. File photo of a dam for illustration purposes only.

The police have confirmed that an inquest into the drowning of a seven-year-old boy has been opened.

The child’s body was found by police divers on a farm at 1.20am on the morning of 9 February. The Herald reported originally that the incident had occurred on a farm in Randfontein, but Captain Appel Ernst has confirmed that it was on the N14, between Randfontein and Tarlton.

Athlenda Mathe, spokesperson for Netcare 911, confirmed this with the Herald and said that the Tarlton Police are handling this case.

The Herald spoke to Constable Lucky Matome, spokesperson for the Tarlton Police, who said, “I can confirm that an inquest has been launched into the seven-year-old boy’s drowning.”

He said further that they are investigating the case. They are looking for answers to questions such as why the boy went to the dam. Constable Matome says the dam is not big, and he also mentioned a stream.

The Herald reported that Netcare 911 paramedics were called to the farm where the had gone missing. It is believed the boy was last seen by his parents on Wednesday afternoon, at 3 pm.

Police and other authorities searched for the boy on the farm for hours. Police divers were then called in to help look for the boy at the farm’s dam. When Netcare 911 paramedics arrived on scene, they joined the police divers in the search. The boy was declared dead by Netcare 911 paramedics.

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