The Saint Lambert family is shocked after the loss of their four-year-old son, who was found unresponsive in the backyard pool on Saturday.
He is the 20th person to drown in Quebec this year, with the tragedy sparking warnings about the importance of water safety.
Police in Longueuil (SPAL) were called to their home on Normandie Boulevard around 4:10 p.m. on Saturday. The first officers tried to revive the boy and he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 17:00.
“The family is devastated by the facts,” said SPAL spokesman Francois Boucher.
Officials say the family had a fence around the indoor pool and it is unclear how the four-year-old got inside.
“The investigation so far has shown that this was accidental in nature,” Boucher said.
Reynold Hawkins is with the Quebec Rescue Society.
As the pools began to open across the province, he warned guardians not to take their children down for even a moment.
“It can happen to young children in 15 to 20 seconds, it’s quiet,” he said.
Another tip is to keep the children at your fingertips:
“It’s like crossing the street. You always want to hold children’s hands. It’s the same reality with the backyard pool.”
With files from The Canadian Press.
Add Comment