A one-year-old child drowned in Florida Lake, near the Florida Lake Canoe Club, on Sunday afternoon, October 18.

The incident was confirmed by Johannesburg Water Police’s media liaison officer Raymond Sambo, who said officers arrived on the scene after club members had already retrieved the child from the water and tried in vain to save the victim’s life.

“Paramedics were called to the scene to resuscitate the child, but without any success,” said Sambo.

“The body was handed over to Florida police at the scene to open an inquest docket and for further investigation.”

Sambo emphasised that parents of young children near open waters should educate them about the associated dangers and ensure constant supervision.

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Safety measures under scrutiny

Johannesburg police district communications co-ordinator Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlane confirmed that police have opened an inquest into the incident.

“The circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated, and no arrests have been made,” she said.

The incident occurred during routine Sunday training at the canoe club.

According to club spokesperson Jennie Dallas, members were coming off the water at the end of their training session when they noticed a commotion at the water’s edge on the far side of the grounds.

“We don’t know yet how the child ended up in the water,” said Dallas, adding that the club has strict rules about entering the water without a life jacket and about supervising small children.

“This will likely form part of the police investigation into the matter. We offer our deepest condolences to the parents and family.”

The Roodepoort Record attempted to contact the child’s mother, in whose care the child was on the day, but a family member said she was not ready to comment.