Family still in shock after drowning
"When I went to see what was going on, I saw little feet sticking out of the bucket"
The family of a one-year-old infant who drowned in a 20-litre bucket of water over the weekend are still in shock. The incident happened at about 11am on Sunday morning while one of the family members was doing the washing.
One of the buckets in which the washing was being done was outside in the yard, half full of water. The whole family was at home at the time.
In an exclusive interview with the Ladysmith Gazette, the child’s grandfather Mr Nathi Nkomo explained that, “I was getting ready for church when the unthinkable happened. I heard the children screaming outside in the yard and when I went to see what was going on, I saw little feet sticking out of the bucket. It was a terrible thing to behold, as I realised the one-year-old was drowning.” Three other children, aged between six and eight years old, were playing with the one-year-old just before the tragedy happened. The grandfather took the toddler out of the bucket and desperately tried to save its life.
A police vehicle was in the area at the time, and the two police officers went to investigate when they witnessed the commotion. Neighbours had already started gathering around and an ambulance had been phoned, but it was already too late. CPR was performed on the child, but in vain.
The deceased was buried on Tuesday. The mother of the child, Nosipho Mabaso, is a Grade 9 pupil at Sizakahle High School and declined to comment as she is very young. “The family is still grieving after the death of another family member a couple of months ago, and now this happens,” said a close family friend who did not want to be named. “The bucket was not even full, so how does a thing like this happen? I think the ancestors must be angry,” commented the grandfather.
Police have confirmed the incident and investigations are continuing.
Initial story HERE
