Family mourns drowning of 9-year-old boy
Family shattered by loss
The police warned that drowning accidents in the region have been on the rise and urged community members to stay safe.
A nine-year-old boy drowned on Tuesday afternoon in Oluhuwa No.1 village, Oshana Region.
He had been sent to fetch water from the dam and is suspected to have slipped and fallen in.
According to a family member, they became concerned when they realised the boy had been missing for an extended period and went searching for him.
They discovered the boy's clothing near the dam and alerted the police, who could not recover the body at the time as it was already dark.
The family member said the deceased must have accidentally let the water can fall into the dam and that he must have taken off his clothing in an attempt to retrieve the water can, which caused him to slip and drown.
Hope lost
When Namibian Sun arrived at the scene at around 06:00 on Wednesday morning, the family was sitting around a fire waiting for the police to arrive.
"We did not sleep at all; we have been sitting around the fire at the dam waiting for the police to come recover the body," a family member said.
The relatives at the scene were left shattered as the deceased's body was later recovered from the dam by members of the Namibian police.
"Our hearts are shattered; we are still in disbelief," a relative said.
Increase drowning cases
Oshana regional police commander, commissioner Sakaria Lungameni, who confirmed the incident, warned that drowning incidents in the region have been on the increase and urged community members to stay away from dams.
"Parents should refrain from sending children to fetch water as it is dangerous," he said.
He added that parents and teachers should educate children about the dangers of water.
According to Lungameni, it is not only children who are victims of drowning but also adults who attempt to cross deep waters and end up drowning.
He had been sent to fetch water from the dam and is suspected to have slipped and fallen in.
According to a family member, they became concerned when they realised the boy had been missing for an extended period and went searching for him.
They discovered the boy's clothing near the dam and alerted the police, who could not recover the body at the time as it was already dark.
The family member said the deceased must have accidentally let the water can fall into the dam and that he must have taken off his clothing in an attempt to retrieve the water can, which caused him to slip and drown.
Hope lost
When Namibian Sun arrived at the scene at around 06:00 on Wednesday morning, the family was sitting around a fire waiting for the police to arrive.
"We did not sleep at all; we have been sitting around the fire at the dam waiting for the police to come recover the body," a family member said.
The relatives at the scene were left shattered as the deceased's body was later recovered from the dam by members of the Namibian police.
"Our hearts are shattered; we are still in disbelief," a relative said.
Increase drowning cases
Oshana regional police commander, commissioner Sakaria Lungameni, who confirmed the incident, warned that drowning incidents in the region have been on the increase and urged community members to stay away from dams.
"Parents should refrain from sending children to fetch water as it is dangerous," he said.
He added that parents and teachers should educate children about the dangers of water.
According to Lungameni, it is not only children who are victims of drowning but also adults who attempt to cross deep waters and end up drowning.
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