Children are at greater risk of drowning during the current Covid 19 lockdown, a water safety group warned yesterday (Tue).
The appeal to kids and their parents came just two days after six year-old Louis Chan tragically drowned near his home in Mayo
The young boy, from Rehinsfort, Ballina, was playing on waste ground at about 1pm on Saturday when he apparently slipped and fell into a small stream.
A search operation was mounted and the boy was discovered in the water a short time later before being brought to Mayo University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
John Leech of Water Safety Ireland said: “Over half a million primary school children are under the Covid-19 restrictions which confines them to a diameter of two kilometres from their home.
“Ireland by its geographical nature has many streams, rivers, canals, ponds, slurry and rainwater collection tanks, bog holes, wells, lakes and the seashore within this distance. “From our research six out of 10 drownings occur at inland water sites and eight out of 10 drownings occur close to the victims home.
“It is essential that parents maintain constant, responsible and uninterrupted supervision on their children to ensure they don’t gain access to these real hazards.”
Further advice on how to stay safe near water is available at https://www.teachpaws.ie
