A 5 year old Kenyan boy has drowned in unclear circumstances in Roswell, Georgia, some 15 Miles North of State Capital, Atlanta.
A distraught Kenyan couple was Thursday mourning the death of their only child, whose body was retrieved from the apartment complex swimming pool by police on Wednesday afternoon.
Master Mark Mwangi’s remains were discovered by Fulton County authorities at orion at Roswell Village Apartments,
Hemingway Lane, following a distress call by the parents, Mr Timothy Mwangi and Ms Tabitha Gitaka, who dialed 911 upon realizing that their son was missing.
“A jovial Mark had told his mother that he was going to check whether his friends who lived next door could accompany him to the park after the mom promised to take her to the recreational facility,” said Steve Mbugua, a family friend.
“That was the last time his mother saw him alive,” he added.
Upon sensing that all was not well, the boy’s parents called the police after a frantic search in the neighborhood.
“Master Mwangi’s lifeless body was discovered by the officers lying at the bottom of the pool,” said Mbugua.
“Paramedics arrived shortly after the police but it was too late,” said a family member.
The boy’s body was taken to the office of Fulton County Coroner where a postmortem is scheduled to be performed.
In the state of Georgia, the County coroner is responsible for performing autopsies and determining the cause and manner of death.
On Wednesday, Roswell police immediately launched investigations into what could have led to the drowning.
“At the moment we do not suspect any foul play but investigations are ongoing and we shall issue a comprehensive statement once they are concluded,” said an officer who asked not to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
Friends and family members continued to condole the parents as arrangements were being made for prayer meetings.
‘This was a special kind of a kid. He was very prayerful and would dedicate a good amount of time each evening praying for his friends,” said a family member by telephone. “We as a family are really devastated by this development,’ she added.
“This is so sad. May God comfort his distraught parents. RIP little Mark,” tweeted Maryanne Waweru.
A recent study carried out in the US shows drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children 5-years and younger, according to a report by Live Science Magazine.
It cites a study from the CDC that analyzed data from 1999 to 2010. During those 12 years, more than 46,000 people died from drowning, an average of nearly 4,000 each year, or about 10 a day.
While the number of drowning incidents declined for most age groups, says the report, for boys ages 1 to 5, drowning has replaced traffic accidents as the leading cause of accidental death.
Drowning, according to World Health Organization, is among the top causes of accidental death worldwide. 7 percent of all injury-related deaths are from drowning.
The family released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
We regret to announce the passing on of Master Mark Mwangi (5yrs). He was son to Timothy Mwangi (bro to Hellen Mwangi of Roswell, GA) and Tabitha Gitaka. Prayers today at 108 Village Pkwy, Woodstock, GA, 30188.
More info: Hellen Tel 404 573 8213
Patricia:770 873 5146
Wamsosi: 4048381229
BY BMJ MURIITHI
-ksnmedia.com
