A frisky toddler who went to play at a neighbour's house yesterday morning drowned in a pond in their back yard when he was left unattended at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Martin Joseph Jr.

Dead is Martin Joseph, 21 months, of Sea Dam Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

The grieving mother, Soma Narine, 24, said she went out briefly about 10:00 h and, as usual, left her son in the care of her neighbour who lives two houses away.

When she returned she saw the woman with a troubled look on her face.

The neighbour told her that she could find her son.

They searched the yard and ad the child was found at the bottom of the pond. They tried mouth to mouth resuscitation and then they rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Narine said he was her only child and often he would cry to go and play with the six children in the neighbour's yard.

"He begged me to go play today, and when I denied him he cried for hours, then I said yes and took him over." Sher said

Narine was inconsolable when the Chronicle visited last evening. The tragedy shocked residents in the area and they turned out in numbers to comfort the child's grieving mother and father, Martin Joseph, 26.

The neighbour was questioned by the Police.

Thursday, July 07, 2005