A grandmother at the house where an 8-year-old boy drowned is struggling with his death but hailing her neighbour and grandson as “absolute heroes” for trying to save his life.
Gurshabad Singh died last Monday after escaping from a Ritchies school van and drowning in the backyard pool of a property in Te Atatū South.
Gurshabad Singh was travelling in a Ritchies van when he escaped during school drop off and drowned at a nearby private property.
The woman, who did not want to be named, told the Herald that, as soon as Gurshabad’s body was seen in the fenced pool, her neighbour ran over and started compressions, while her grandson did pulse checks.
“They gave him a spark of hope.
“We are grieving the loss alongside the family. No parent should ever have to walk down the path of losing a child.
“He had everything going against him that day,” she said, holding back tears. She referred to Gurshabad as a “wee little man”.
She had since taken time off work as she grappled with the backyard tragedy.
Her property and pool were fully fenced and complied with Auckland Council regulations.
The woman, who is partially deaf, was working from home last Monday afternoon, unaware that Gurshabad had come onto her property.
“I thought I’d check on the washing and my granddaughter’s pants were wet, so I thought I’d hang them out on the balcony under the sun.”
At that point, she noticed someone was in her backyard pool.
“I saw his body submerged under the water and it took me a few seconds to take in what I’d seen ... I thought, ‘F**k, is that really what I think it is?’
“I nearly had a heart attack. I thought my grandson had died.”
She ran to her phone and dialled 111 just before 3.30pm. Gurshabad’s parents told the Herald they were notified he had gone missing just one hour beforehand.
The resident described “bursting” into her grandson’s room, while staying on the phone with police, and being relieved to see he was asleep.
“We didn’t hear anything. I’m deaf, and my grandson was asleep, and there was no shouting or anything.”
She then ran across to her neighbours’ fence, “banged loudly” and frantically screamed, “Does anyone have a missing child?”
“My neighbour came straight across, and he and my grandson ran to the pool and got the wee little man out,” she said tearfully.
The neighbour started chest compressions on Gurshabad, while her teenage grandson propped his head and checked for a pulse.
Despite their best efforts, Gurshabad had already died. The woman said emergency services told her he could have been in the water for anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes.
Within “minutes” of her 111 call, she said about 30 people, including police officers, St John staff, neighbours and people from Gurshabad’s school rushed down her driveway.
Gurshabad was non-verbal and on the autism spectrum. His parents earlier told the Herald he was a “very clever” boy who was very fast and would “escape” given the opportunity.
Police had searched for him further down the street and at a nearby creek. The woman said police mentioned he had been jumping fences and walking around nearby properties.
A police investigation has begun alongside the coroner, while WorkSafe and the Ministry of Education continue their inquiries.
Ritchies is contracted by the ministry to provide specialised transport for children with specific needs through its Specialised School Transport Assistance scheme.
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeart app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeart is easy to use and all FREE
