Boy, 3, drowned in condo pool while unsupervised; coroner's court finds nanny 'not forthcoming'

A tragic accident claimed the life of a three-year-old boy who drowned in his condominium's swimming pool while under the supervision of his nanny. The coroner's court in Singapore concluded the death was accidental, but highlighted concerns regarding the nanny's account of the events leading up to the drowning.

The boy, who was playing at the condominium's playground with his nanny, rode off on his kick-scooter and fell into the main pool. The nanny, who had cared for the child since he was eight months old, initially insisted she had been paying full attention. However, closed-circuit television footage and her subsequent admissions indicated she had lost sight of the boy.

Coroner Brenda Chua noted that the nanny was "not forthcoming" during the inquiry, employing a defensive approach. While the nanny claimed she turned to place a water bottle on a bench, CCTV footage did not corroborate this. She later conceded the footage did not capture her performing this action. The coroner emphasized the critical importance of constant and close supervision for young children, especially near water bodies like swimming pools.

The court heard that the pool was 1.2 meters deep and lacked a physical barrier. The boy, who was 1 meter tall, fell in with his scooter. Although a resident spotted the boy and alerted authorities, and paramedics attempted resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The autopsy confirmed drowning as the cause of death. The identities of the child and his family, as well as the condominium's name, are protected by a gag order.

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