Tragedy struck a Bodden Town family over the weekend as their 4-year-old son died in an apparent drowning accident.
The boy drowned Saturday afternoon in the district of Bodden Town after falling into a brackish water pond located in back of a neighbourhood development.
The child – identified by local residents as Aidan Cupid – was with a group of three other children, including his older sister, when the incident happened around 1.30pm Saturday.
According to residents in the Silver Thatch Estates subdivision off Minzett Drive in the Northward area, the group of children had walked through the neighbourhood to an undeveloped section that contains several high dirt mounds and a small brackish water pond.
It was not immediately clear what happened, but residents said it appeared the boy either slipped from one of the marl slopes, or jumped, into the water. After making attempts to rescue him themselves, his older sister and the other two children ran from door-to-door in the neighbourhood requesting help from adults.
One of them was Greg McLaughlin, who lives in the last house on Minzett Drive before the undeveloped portion of the neighbourhood.
“I was just laying on the couch asleep, when this girl came running and said ‘somebody’s drowning out there’,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “It’s really dark in the water and it’s deep out there, I couldn’t see in the water.”
Mr. McLaughlin and another man, Jerad Ebanks, tried to find the boy for nearly half an hour.
“I’m a very good swimmer, but I just kept going down and down and a lot of other guys came after that, and we couldn’t find him,” Mr. McLaughlin said.
Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officers were called to the scene, along with firefighters and a marine unit dive crew. Eventually the dive crew located the boy, but by then it was too late.
“I felt really bad that I couldn’t help him,” Mr. McLaughlin said.
There was no fence around the undeveloped area of the neighbourhood, which some residents reported had been undergoing some blasting work in recent weeks.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service released the following statement on the incident: “Saturday, 18 February, 2012, about 1.50pm emergency responders comprising of the fire department, emergency medical services, police uniform section and police marine section attended a report of a 4-year-old child missing in a body of water located at Minzett Drive, Northward, Bodden Town.
“After a short search, the child was recovered in the body of water. Residents of the area also assisted in the search,” the statement read. “Emergency services personnel transported the unconscious child to the Cayman Islands Hospital where death was pronounced. An officer from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has been assigned as a liaison officer for the family during their loss. The RCIPS extends condolences to the bereaved family.”
Police said the incident remains under investigation and details will be released in due course.
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So sad that somebody needs to get killed first before doing an appropriate action. So what happen next, they will put fence, or security on the pond where the child drowned. Why they did not do it before, These incident shouldnt happen. My deep sympathy to the family of the kid.. Feel so bad….
Lets be serious here. You cannot put a fence around every hole in cayman.
The real question should be asked is, where were the parents.
4 year old out with kids who obviously aren’t qualified to be watching kids. Where were the adults?
What type of heartless, mindless morons are using the thumbs down button on this forum ?
What about the former comments and concerns and sympathy expressed would warrant 10 disagreements ?
On other topics it is clear that politically motivated or guided people are posting thumbs down deliberately in response to comments that their political masters are ordering them to…
But this is the depths of lowness to disagree with these comments.
My only question is? What was a 4 year old child doing being out of the care and supervision of an adult, roaming around in this neighbourhood where he could come into such danger.
There needs to be a child endangerment investigation into this death because someone must be held responsible…
This was a totally avoidable accident and other children cannot be responsible for having children in their care.
This is very sad. Children this young needs adult supervision at all times!My deepest condolences to the parents and family of this young boy …. so so sad 🙁
This is so heartbreaking. I knew this precious child and I also know his mother. She was a good, responsible parent so it’s hard to fathom why the little boy and friends would be wondering off outside without proper supervision. Parents take note – do NOT leave your children unattended! I play with my 3 year old outdoors all the time and there are two man made lakes not too far from us so I’m extra cautious with him. If I have to go inside for any reason even for a minute he has to come with me (kicking screaming). If myself or his dad can’t be with him outside then he can’t go out to play. Kids are so curious and adventurous and children cannot be responsible for children. Accidents do happen but many of them can be avoided. I do not know what it’s like to lose a child (pray I never have to) but my heart simply aches for his mom who’s obviously distraught and deeply hurt. God bless your sweet soul lil one and may he comfort your parents and loved ones in these very trying times. RIP Angel