SIX YEAR OLD DROWNS IN TOBAGO POOLBy CECILY ASSON and Marissa Williams Monday, August 10 2009
A six-year-old boy drowned in a pool in Tobago on Friday but there are conflicting reports as to what happened.
Jadon Maharaj, six, of Jaguar Crescent, Harmony Hall, Gasparillo in south Trinidad had just arrived on the island for a vacation with his parents and his older sister, when, in less than 45 minutes after they checked in at Crusoe’s Holiday Apartments on Store Bay Branch Road, Canaan, Bon Accord, the lifeless body of the child was found floating in the pool
According to hotel owner Janice McFarlene the family had already checked into the hotel when the boy wandered off and fell into the pool.Police reports said the youngster was with his family by the pool at about 2.30 pm on Friday when he wandered off on his own and fell into the swimming pool and drowned. His body was found floating in the pool by maintenance staff about 45 minutes after the family arrived at the hotel.
Police said Jadon’s father rushed to the area and pulled his son out of the water but efforts to revive the boy failed.
He was later rushed to the Canaan Health Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The body was viewed by the District Medical Officer and later removed to the mortuary of the Scarborough General Hospital. A post mortem is expected to be performed today.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday at the hotel, McFarlene described the death of the young child as very unfortunate.
McFarlene said the family, including Jadon and an older sister, were settling into their rooms at the hotel at 1.45 pm but in less than one hour the boy’s lifeless body was spotted floating in the swimming pool.
McFarlene said the situation is very unfortunate and could have happened to anybody.
“They are all so traumatised and if I could have done anything to bring their son back, I would have done it,” said McFarlene.
She warned that no one should be blamed in situations like this one.
The employee also told Newsday that the rules of the establishment regarding the use of the pool is that children under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by an adult. At the Gasparillo home, distraught relatives who were present at the time said that they could not speak on behalf of the family.
“The parents are not here as yet and we cannot speak,” said one man who would not give his name. “You will have to come back later.”
Investigations are continuing.
