A two-year-old boy has died after he fell into a canal having walked out of his home to go and feed the ducks, it is understood.
Emergency services were called to Hendon Avenue in Ettingshall just after 6pm yesterday evening following reports of the little boy in the water.
Neighbours reported hearing ‘loud screams’ as the tragedy unfolded, while one claimed the child’s family were in the process of moving house when he may have escaped through an open garage.
Police officers managed to pull the boy out of the canal in a critical condition before paramedics began giving advanced life support.
However, despite the efforts of medical staff, the toddler was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
The canal off Hendon Avenue in Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, where a boy died yesterday evening
Emergency services were called to Hendon Avenue yesterday evening at 6.01pm
One local, who explained the boy’s family were moving house, said: ‘I’ve got two young ones myself and this canal is 100 metres from my house. It’s very popular with dog walkers and people feeding the ducks.
‘We’ve been down there plenty of times when we’ve had a bit of bread a few days out of date we think lets just feed the ducks. And they do, the kids love feeding the ducks.
‘The first I saw was the police and then I went on the Whatsapp group. At that point it was, there’s a two-year-old missing.’
The local added: ‘The family do come and feed the birds, the ducks. The family are in the process of moving I think so the garage was open anyway for them to pack the car and whatnot.
‘So he must have got out. He left the house, he went missing, under some circumstances.
‘Whether he escaped through the garage because it was open, I’m not too sure. I heard a person screaming.
‘They were resuscitating him there for about 20 minutes and then they took him in an ambulance.
‘Police were here until fairly late, we had a children’s birthday party and were cleaning up until late and they were still here.
‘Then I saw it confirmed in the news, it’s absolutely devastating’.
Police tape at the scene where a boy tragically died yesterday evening
Hendon Avenue (pictured) in Ettingshall, where the boy tragically died
Another resident added: ‘I saw loads of police around here and then loud screams.
‘We’ve heard he got out somehow and went down to the canal where he sometimes goes to feed the ducks. It’s just utterly tragic. You can’t even fathom what his parents must be going through.’
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: ‘On arrival, crews found a boy, who had been pulled from the water by police colleagues, in a critical condition.
‘He was receiving basic life support by officers and ambulance staff immediately took over to administer advanced life support.
‘Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, the child could not be saved and he was confirmed dead at the scene.’
It comes as more people may head to open water this week as forecasters predict hot weather on Monday and Tuesday.
Swimmers were warned of the dangers of open water last month ahead of a sunny stretch of weather.
Sam Hughes, water safety manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, said: ‘With the weather looking unsettled, we’re still expecting people during the school summer holidays to head to coastal locations.
‘We’re reminding people to head for a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.
‘If you do find yourself in difficulty, remember float to live: tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing.
‘Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then, once you are through the initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can.’