ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A St Elizabeth family’s Easter took a tragic turn when a nine-year-old boy, in attempting to retrieve a ball, fell into a tank at his home on Thursday leaving relatives grieving and the police reiterating an appeal to citizens to replace and secure tank coverings.

The boy has been identified as Samuel Clarke, a student of Goshen Primary School.

Police said about 5:00 pm on Thursday, the child was at home with his brother who was reportedly inside the house while Samuel was outside playing with a ball which fell into a tank.

It is believed that Samuel took off his clothes and went into the tank to retrieve the ball when he drowned.
Police said his clothes were seen at the side of the tank by a passerby and subsequent checks revealed his body in the tank.

Operations officer for St Elizabeth, Deputy Superintendent Owen Brown said although Thursday’s incident is still under investigation, he is warning of the importance of safety measures to prevent children from accessing tanks.

“We have had more than one occasion where this has happened maybe not in St Elizabeth, but across the island. We know that some persons may have suffered as a result of the hurricane where roofs were removed from these catchments. We are asking that you ensure that these tanks are properly covered whether with zinc, board or concrete, whatever it is, but ensure that these tanks are securely covered and are outside the space where children can have access to them,” he said.

“Although some [tanks] may be covered but there may still be access points where persons can get the water and children especially boys can be very curious. You want to make sure that it is inaccessible to them from every angle,” he added.

He said the police’s Community, Safety and Security Branch will be providing counseling and support for the child’s family.

“We want to offer our condolences to the family members. We know it is not an easy scene when a family member has passed, worse case when it is a child and in a tragic way,” he said.

“We do offer counseling. We will through our CSS team be visiting with the family to offer the kind of help that they will need. We do know that it is a very tough period at this time,” he added.

He said counseling will also be done at the child’s school.

“Our task will also take us into the school where we will also meet with the classmates just to offer our condolences and whatever kind of psychosocial care that we can offer to ensure that is dealt with, so that they know they are not alone going through this and that the police we are there with them,” he said.

He is warning parents to remain vigilant in supervising their children.

“The care of our children is our responsibility. We have to make sure at all times that they are in our space. We know where they are and that they are not in any form of danger,” he said.

“It is also crucial that you talk with the children. Let them know where the dangers are, so they are not elsewhere where they could be in danger whilst you are somewhere else, it is really our responsibility to ensure that our children are taken care of, so again we really offer our condolences to the family,” he added.

Janoy Brown, the child’s stepfather was overcome with grief as he recounted memories with Samuel.

“I was at work, but to my knowledge and to the way how we see it. Him was there playing ball and the ball drop in the tank. Is like him a try every little way to get it out. Like him try from here so and the ball a drift from him, so him go round and you can see him clothes still on the tank round there so,” he said.

“Like him go round there and take off him slippers and climb up. A piece of board was there and you can see if it he lost his balance and go over. It nuh easy Jah know to know that yesterday we were planning to have a Happy Easter today and this come, no Easter, disaster,” he added.

— Kasey Williams