The family of a boy who drowned in a lagoon has attacked the city council, arguing that their son would still be alive if a better fence had been built around the site.
Four-year-old Ali Aminzadah, from Swan Hill in north-west Victoria, was visiting his family in Officer, south-east of Melbourne, with his parents on Sunday afternoon when he wandered a short distance away.
After 30 agonizing minutes, Ali was found unconscious in the chain of ponds that gave its name to the adjacent Lagoon Row.
It was only 50 meters from his relatives’ house.
His family is furious because the only thing between the lagoon and the nearby houses was a fine wire fence.
Ali’s family and shocked locals now want the council to improve fencing around the wetlands in the hope a similar tragedy does not happen again.
Ali Aminzadah (pictured) drowned on Sunday after wandering from his family home to a nearby wetland area.
Ali’s devastated family demand answers as to why a fine wire fence is all that stood between a pond and nearby homes.
The fence is made of thin wire and some sections are crumbling or have gaps large enough for a child to crawl through.
Ali’s parents have remembered the young man as a “fun-loving” boy with a “big smile.”
Neighbor Tammy Gauld described the inadequate fencing around the pond as “an accident waiting to happen.”
“Very often you see children around the lake,” he said. 7News.
“I really think the council needs to look at the fences to see what they can do and put in something better than what’s there.”
“A lot of young families live here, you often see them passing by every day with their young children, so it is very worrying if a child manages to get away from their parents, there is a large body of water that attracts them.”
The Cardinia Shire Council, responsible for maintaining the fence surrounding the wetlands, has offered its condolences to Ali’s family.
However, he has not yet commented on his concerns about the fence.
“This is absolutely tragic news,” Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik said.
‘On behalf of the council and the local community, I extend our deepest condolences to the boy’s family during this devastating time.
‘The Cardinia Shire community has been deeply affected by this terrible incident which occurred so close to home.
“I would also like to acknowledge the impact of this incident on the first responders and the brave efforts of the emergency services personnel who responded to the scene.”
Victoria Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Ali had jumped over the fence into the lagoon while his family frantically searched for him for 30 minutes.