Child dies after falling into covered pool

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 1

Child dies after falling into covered pool

A child, aged 22 months, who was found face down in a swimming pool yesterday morning, died in Christchurch Hospital nine hours later. She was Ambor Jane McMeekin, of Lower Hutt. She was staying with her parents at a friend’s place in Fendalton Road when she went missing about 10.30 a.m, A quick search was made

for the child and the police were informed. The house has the River Avon as a rear boundary as well as a swimming pool at the side of the house. Sergeant R. S. Brickmann, who was in one of three cars sent to the property, said that it was only when the cover was taken off the pool that the child was discovered. “About three persons had

looked under the edge of the cover and had found nothing. It was only when it was lifted right off that we, found her. “I jumped in clothes and all and brought her to the side where she was immediately given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage. “She could have been in the pool for as long as 30 minutes,” he said.

Four policemen gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage at the side of the pool until a St John ambulance arrived. When the child was transferred by ambulance to hospital, three constables went with her and continued the heart massage. The ambulance was equipped with oxygen. When the ambulance arrived at the hospital resusci-

tation was continued until the child’s breathing and heart functioned without assistance. “The parents had only arrived from Wellington on Saturday evening and were aware of the dangers of the river and the swimming pool,” said Sergeant Brickmann. “They had their eyes off the child for only a couple of minutes and she was gone.

“They immediately went to the river because the child had been fascinated by the ducks. Someone got in a canoe and looked up and down the riverbank. "Someone had a look under the cover of the pool and saw nothing. “We don’t know if the child tried to walk over the cover or just lifted the cover and fell in.” Sergeant Brickmann said

that the pool was not fenced, but the occupants were well aware of the dangers for the child. He said that the people were correct in calling the police so soon after they noticed the child was missing. “The sooner we get the call the better. A police dog can follow a trail much better when the scent is fresh,” Sergeant Brickmann

said. "A child can wander a long way in an hour. The sooner we are told the shorter the distance the child will have travelled,” he said. After the child was revived she was admitted to the intensive-care unit. Although she was breathing naturally doctors were worried about neurological damage. Sergeant Brickmann said.