New details emerge about the death of five-year-old boy at Bents Basin in Sydney’s west
Bystanders who rushed to the aid of a drowning five-year-old boy were alerted to the tragedy by his mother’s screams.
The little boy was swimming with his family at Bents Basin, near Greendale in Sydney’s west, when he began to struggle in the water about 5.15pm on Saturday.
He was pulled to shore where members of the public performed CPR until ambulances arrived.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The boy was taken in a critical condition to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where he later died.
Kylee Murphy’s uncle and brother were among the witnesses who gave the boy first aid.
She told 7NEWS it was a “very traumatic experience” for them and her heart is “broken” for the little boy.
“The mum was sitting at the picnic tables. She started screaming and that’s when my brother and uncle came running over and started CPR,” she said.
“No one knows how long he was even under the water for.
“My brother and uncle did everything they could to help him. They were both trained in CPR as well so they did absolutely everything to save him.
“It’s such an upsetting outcome.”
Bents Basin is renowned for its dangerous and powerful undercurrents, which have been known to suck swimmers to the bottom of the deep lagoon.
The nature reserve has been the site of a series of drownings over the past decade, including the death of a 25-year-old man in 2019 and a 25-year-old man in 2016.
Murphy said she hopes the tragedy may result in beefed up safety measures at the waterhole.
“It’s very dangerous but also there are signs everywhere to say to how dangerous it is and to be vigilant,” she said.
“I understand accidents happen, I do not blame anyone at all but we have to have life jackets or life guards at this place and every popular water hole and to take extra precautions so this doesn’t happen.
“I just pray that people can learn from this. I know I look at life a little bit more fragile now.”
NSW Police are continuing to investigate the boy’s death.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Originally published on 7NEWS
