A tragic drowning incident claimed the life of a one-year-old girl in Oshanawa Village, Ongwediva, on Friday afternoon.
According to the Oshana police, the victim, identified as Ndinelao Tuyekumwe Bonifacio, an Angolan national born on 23 August 2024, drowned at around 13:11 after falling into a bucket of water.
Reports indicate that the toddler’s mother, who works as a domestic worker, had just finished mopping the house and left a bucket of water outside. She then took her daughter to the kitchen while preparing a meal. The child was briefly left unattended when the mother stepped out of the room.
Upon her return, she found the toddler submerged in the bucket. The mother immediately removed the child from the water and alerted her employer. Unfortunately, the toddler could not be saved.
The body was taken to Oshakati Police Mortuary for a post-mortem examination. Police confirmed that the next of kin have been informed.
Authorities have urged parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and avoid leaving small children unsupervised near water sources, no matter how shallow.
