Inquest into death of Freddie Watmough in pond
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A verdict of accidental death has been returned by an
inquest into the death of a Kent toddler who drowned in a
neighbour's pond.
The inquest, held at Dover magistrates court, heard
that three-year-old Freddie Watmough had wandered out of the back
door at his home in Victoria Road, Dover on Saturday, May 23 last
year while he was being looked after by his grandmother.
The toddler scaled a six-foot wall and ventured into his
neighbour's garden, where he drowned in a matter of minutes while
the pond was unattended.
In her evidence, grandmother Julie Beardman said Freddie was a
very active child, and was being tested by professionals because he
was "always on the go."
"He was quiet for a long time - about 10 minutes," she said.
"I thought he had gone up to bed because he used to put himself
to bed.
"My granddaughter went upstairs to the bedroom and she said he
wasn't there."
PC Kevin Sturgess was called to the house after Mrs Beardman and
Freddie's sister searched unsuccessfully for him.
Seeing garden furniture and a trampoline perched against a wall,
he too climbed the wall and followed the route into neighbour Shaun
King's garden at his home in Erith Street.
Mr King said: "That morning I was doing some maintenance in the
pond. I went in for a cup of tea and then I saw a policeman in my
garden and he asked if I had seen Freddie.
"For some reason I went straight to the pond and there he
was."
The boy was found face down at 12.06pm wearing just a yellow
Tshirt and a nappy.
PC Sturgess tried to revive Freddie, but when he arrived at the
William Harvey Hospital in Ashford at 1.51pm, he was pronounced
dead.
Coroner Rachel Redman recorded a verdict of accidental death and
extended her condolences to the child's family.
Wednesday, March 10 2010
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