Child who drowned at Lower Hutt's Avalon Park named on Givealittle
Updated
NZ Herald
15 Dec, 2024 06:05 PM2 mins to read
The child who drowned at a popular Lower Hutt park was a 5-year-old boy who had moved to New Zealand from Kenya two weeks ago.
Miles, the boy who died after a “tragic accident” at Avalon Park on Saturday night, had recently emigrated after his family-of-four secured New Zealand residency, a family friend told the Herald.
A Givealittle page to support the grieving family said Miles, his parents, and baby brother lived in Wellington.
The fundraiser, started by a family friend, would aid funeral costs and possibly help bring Miles’ relatives to New Zealand for the service.
Within 13 hours, the Givealittle raised more than $7000 of its $10,000 goal.
The child was unresponsive when pulled from the water at Avalon Park on Saturday night.
Emergency services were called to the park at 8.10pm.
“CPR was undertaken but sadly, the child could not be resuscitated,” a police spokesperson said.
Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.
Hutt City councillor Brady Dyer said his heart went out to the whānau who tragically lost their “precious child” in the incident.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and I know our community will be holding you in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.”
Avalon Park, which had a $3.7 million upgrade in 2016, includes a boating pond which runs to a depth of around a metre.
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