Younger than two years old died from drowning in septic tank in Cesar

A tragedy occurred in the municipality of Gamarra, in the department of Cesar, after a child under two years of age drowned after falling into a septic tank. The fact occurred in the midst of a carelessness of the child's mother, who did not realize that near the place where the baby was he could fall into the pit, when he was taken out it was too late.

The minor's family lives in a house located in the Andean village of Palenquillo, in the jurisdiction of the municipality of Gamarra. According to the account of the neighbors, consulted by the authorities, the mother of the two-year-old boy was inside her home preparing lunch, and she did not realize when the child left.

When the mother realized that the child was not in the house, it was too late, according to the authorities' report, half an hour earlier the child had fallen into the pit and had drowned. “He states that he looked for the minor from the welfare home and started cooking. After half an hour, he notices the minor's absence, goes out to look for him and finds him floating in the septic tank in the courtyard of the residence, immediately takes him out of the place and gives him first aid,” the police statement reads.

However, by that time the minor was no longer reacting. Even so, in the midst of her despair, the woman managed to take her son to the hospital in Gamarra, where doctors confirm that the child has no vital signs. “Seeing that the minor did not react, he takes him to the hospital in Gamarra, where he arrives without vital signs,” said the National Police. To clarify the situation, the child's body was transferred to Medicina Legal, to determine the cause of death.

After due work in the morgue, the authorities determined that the child under two years of age died by drowning.

Unfortunately, a tragedy like this has a record in the department. In 2014, a child under 9 years old also died of drowning when he fell into a septic tank in the municipality of Aguachica. The minor was identified as Jhon Alexander Carrillo Altama and was in the yard of his house playing with a ball.

However, a very strong kick sent the ball into the courtyard of the neighboring house, so the youngest decided to cross paths to get it back. The minor did not notice the two-metre-deep pit that was in the place. When he passed to the neighboring house, the land on the edge of it gave way and the younger one sank.

In this case, the neighbor noticed the minor's fall and tried to help him quickly. When he managed to get him out, the minor was still alive, but his vital signs were very weak, so he took him to the nearest medical center, there the doctors were unable to save the child's life and, minutes after his admission, they confirmed that he had died.

Given the recent situation, the authorities emphasized the call to parents or adults in charge of child care not to neglect them in areas close to septic tanks located in some rural dwellings in the area. In the same way, they have pointed out to the people who have these in their homes that they have some kind of protection or warning to the inhabitants in order to avoid these tragedies.

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