The toddler who fell into a pond at his school on Deltalaan in Rosmalen on Tuesday and had to be resuscitated is still in hospital. The police call the boy’s situation ‘stable’. Wittering primary school is closed all day on Wednesday, but will reopen on Thursday. The boy escaped the attention of teachers, wandered off the schoolyard and ended up in a pond near the schoolyard.
The police are currently assuming an accident, but are still investigating. Forensic investigation staff will be at the school on Wednesday to conduct trace investigations and map the area. They fly around there with a drone, among other things. The school itself is also investigating how the child could have ended up outside the schoolyard. The school management announced this on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are going to try to reconstruct the situation.”
“Yesterday we had a day that you hope you never have to experience. We are very shocked and deeply sympathize with the little boy and his family,” said Caren Joosten of Signum Onderwijs. This is the umbrella organization that the school falls under.
According to police, the boy is in stable condition in hospital. The school management cannot say anything about this. “We are in contact with the parents, but we cannot comment on his medical condition. That is up to them,” says Joosten.
It is still unclear how the accident could happen. The police assume it was an unfortunate accident. “But as usual, we are still investigating this to get the story completely clear,” says a police spokesperson. The school is also conducting an investigation. “We are going to try to reconstruct the situation with all the information that is available or will become available,” Joosten explains.
The school will consult with authorities on Wednesday about how the children can return to school.
“One incident is no reason to assume that safety is at stake.”
The education inspectorate contacted the school on Tuesday. It was discussed what exactly happened and whether the correct action was taken after the accident. According to the inspector, that is the case. “The safety protocols were followed and 112 was immediately called,” says spokesperson Lucas Verbunt. “But we do not discuss the question of guilt.”
According to Verbunt, the annual report from the education inspectorate shows that safety at Wittering is in order. The education inspectorate now sees no reason to conduct further investigation. “One incident is no reason to assume that safety is at stake. There is no reason to assume that this incident is exemplary of general safety.”
THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY:
Child (4) escapes teachers’ attention and is seriously injured in pond
