PLUNGE INTO POND

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 8

PLUNGE INTO POND

NURSEMAID’S PROMPT ACT. VAIN EFFORT TO SAVE CHILD. A young nursemaid plunged into a lilypond in the garden of Sir John Hopkins, Bart., at Lingfield, Surrey, a few weeks ago, to recover Sir John’s 17 month-old baby grandson, but it was too late—the child was dead. The child was Peter John Farmer, son of Commander Leslie G. H. Farmer, R.N. (retired), and Mrs Farmer. Mrs Farmer was formerly Miss Elizabeth Joan Hopkins. Mr and Mrs Fanner had only recently returned from Argentina, and they had gone to Scotland, leaving their two sons, Peter John and his three-year-old brother, with the children’s grandparents. A friend of the family said:—“The nurse, Lady Hopkins, the child and his brother were in the garden some yards away from the pond, and when Lady Hopkins walked toward the house the nurse saw John toddling after her. When later she found that the child was not indoors she rushed back into the garden and a search was made. “Eventually the nurse saw the child in the lily pond. She gave a cry of ‘Oh!’ and threw herself into the water. It is only 3ft deep and she brought the body to the bank. There was only a small wicket gate to the pond, which is wired off, but the child must have walked through the gate and fallen in. “The child was taken to the house, and a doctor was called. For an hour artificial respiration was tried, but failed.” Immediately it was certain that the boy was dead, the news was telephoned to his mother and father, and they at once returned.

Lady Hopkins said, “The child was playing near the pond. He was not alone. It was a pure accident” She was too overcame to say more.