A seven-year-old boy from Delft drowned on Monday afternoon while playing with his brother and friends at a construction site.
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Mthetheleli Fetile, the young Israel Adams’ stepfather, says the boy’s mother was preparing their school uniforms when 12-year-old Isaac came running to say that his brother was drowning in a dam.
Fetile says the boys initially left to go to their father, who lives in Wesbank, to get school supplies. ‘They were gone for a long time, but we thought they were still in Wesbank. The dam is more than a kilometre from our home in Leiden.’
The family ran to the site, where several people were already standing around the dam when they arrived.
‘Isaac told us they went to Wesbank but came back to Delft and decided to go to play in the construction site near N2 Gateway. They were using the white foam boards to stay afloat but I believe he capsized and that is how he drowned. His brother tried to grab him but said he felt that he, himself, was drowning and he let go and ran home to call us.’
Israel, who was a Grade 1 pupil at Vergenoeg, was reportedly in the water for about four hours. One of the family’s neighbours, Nomfundo Mancoba, says people were at the scene for a long time.
‘The water was very deep and the police divers couldn’t find his body. A community member also tried to help and the water almost covered him and I can see how the child drowned in there. The police finally found him around 8pm.’
The boy’s mother, Wilmary Fetile, had to identify his body at the mortuary on Tuesday, as reported by Cape Argus.
‘We saw him, he was still wearing the clothes he wore on Monday. Wilmary came back home distraught, she couldn’t even speak because of the heartbreak she experienced. At the moment the family are trying to find a way to bury their child even though the City should take responsibility because the site is open and the children play there all the time.’
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi says Delft police responded to a complaint on Monday.
‘Upon arrival at the scene in Tsau Street, they were informed that a local boy was swimming in the dam and disappeared under the water. The SAPS Provincial Diving Unit were called to assist and they retrieved the body of a 7-year-old boy. The victim was declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel. Delft police registered an inquest for further investigation.’
Anyone who can assist with information about the incident can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
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Family devastated after teen dies in fatal drowning incident at Vlees Baai
Picture: Screenshot / Google Maps