Drowned boy’s mum didn’t inform nursery he was autistic, say police

 

V Thanes Nair, aged 4, was found unconscious in a swimming pool next door on his first day at kindergarten. He died six days later. (Kinder Labz pic)

PETALING JAYA: The nursery in Ipoh where a 4-year-old drowned on his first day has said the boy’s mother had not informed them that he was autistic, police said today.

Ipoh district police chief Yahaya Hassan said the nursery’s principal had stated that the mother did not submit any letter stating that the boy was autistic, Bernama reported.

Yahaya said the principal of Kinder Labz had lodged a report in Chemor on April 18, the day after the incident, and said that despite not being informed of the child’s condition they still allowed him to stay on trial for two hours.

He added that an investigation into the drowning showed that the boy, who died six days later, was a very active child who enjoyed climbing.

Yahaya said the principal had reported that the boy was found unconscious in the swimming pool next door after having “disappeared” and had received CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) from staff before being sent to the hospital.

Yahaya said the boy had suffered multiorgan failure and brain damage from lack of blood flow as a result of the drowning. The case is being investigated as one of negligence under the Child Act.

The boy’s mother, D Nilaveni, had earlier accused the kindergarten of being negligent and demanded they explain how her son had managed to reach the pool while under supposed supervision.

“I am very disappointed because my son was not immediately sent by ambulance for treatment and the kindergarten failed to monitor and take care of my son, who was only four years old, when he was on their premises,” she said. - FMT