A toddler’s lifeless body was discovered in a Black Country canal as his family were in the process of moving home due to drowning fears. Two-year-old Jayce Olutola was pulled out of the water in Wolverhampton on August 11 last year.
A police officer administered life support at the scene after finding the boy in a ‘critical condition’. Paramedics then took over but sadly the child could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.
An inquest at Black Country Coroner’s Court on Thursday, January 16, heard Jayce had lived with his parents on Hendon Avenue, Ettingshall. However the BBC reports that the court heard the family had wanted to move from the area to minimise the risk of Jayce falling in the canal.
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When the tragedy happened, the family were in the process of moving belongings to their new home. The inquest heard that when Jayce’s great aunt realised she could not hear him, she searched the house before finding the garage door open.
A two-year-old boy died after he was pulled from a canal
(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
A police officer sent to search for the young boy drove around the housing estate before heading along the canal on foot. As she was scanning the water, she saw a body floating on the surface.
Senior coroner Zafar Siddique told the inquest his accidental death was caused by drowning after falling into the canal. The BBC reports he said his “heart goes out to the family”, who did not attend the hearing.