UAE | General

Six-year-old Emirati child drowns in drainage pit

A six-year-old boy was killed after he accidentally fell into a deep drainage pit and drowned, police said.

  • By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 17:04 March 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Hadi Abdullah Awadh was playing with his friends when he fell into the pit behind his house.
  • Image Credit: Supplied Picture

Abu Dhabi: A six-year-old boy was killed after he accidentally fell into a deep drainage pit and drowned, police said.

The boy, Hadi Abdullah Awadh, an Emirati, was playing with his friends while he fell into the three-metres deep and 135-metres long pit just behind his house. The incident happened on Monday night in the Al Shawamakh area, about 25 kilometres off the Abu Dhabi city close to Musaffah, according to Abu Dhabi Police.

Speaking to Gulf News, a police official said the pit was dug to set up a drainage system for the disposal of rainwater and groundwater.

"The accident happened at 8.40pm. The boy was playing with his friends. Seeing the boy drowning, his friends gathered around the pit and shouted for help. Hearing this, a neighbour rushed to help the boy out of the water. But he could not be saved."

The parents of the boy took him to the hospital in a bid to save him. During the trip to the hospital, the police was informed. Ambulance and rescue team went to the scene accompanied by the investigating officers, who questioned the eye witnesses and the security officer of the private company who were constructing the sewage system.

Police report said safety measures were inadequate and that led to the accident, pointing out that many children live in this neighbourhood.

By Tuesday, police investigations were completed and the case has been moved to the court.

The police urged parents to care for their children while they played indoor or outdoor and to make children aware of the risks of playing in the streets or in areas where construction work is in progress.

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