Witness says they saw boy, 5, playing near Lower Hutt pond shortly before tragic death

• A 5-year-old boy drowned at Avalon Park just months after moving to New Zealand with his family.
• A Givealittle page has raised more than $22,000 to support the family with funeral costs and travel.
• Hutt City Council says it will review safety arrangements around the pond the boy was found in.

A young Kenyan boy who drowned at a popular Lower Hutt park was reportedly seen playing at the edge of a duck pond shortly before the tragic incident.

A witness said he spotted 5-year-old Miles and another boy lying on the ground and peering into the water as he left Avalon Park with his own children on Saturday evening.

Hutt City Council is now reviewing safety arrangements around the pond.

Miles had emigrated to the Wellington suburb of Johnsonville just a few months prior, after his family of four secured New Zealand residency, a family friend earlier told the Herald.

He died on the weekend after being pulled unresponsive from the pond.

Wamiq Channa said he was at the park that day with his kids, and saw there was an event there organised by the Kenyan community.

“While the adults were indoors, the kids were playing in the park,” he said.

While he was riding on the flying fox with his children, he interacted with Miles and two other children, he said.

Miles has been named as the 5-year-old boy who drowned at Avalon Park in Lower Hutt on Saturday night. Photo / Givealittle

“I introduced my kids and also asked their names, one of them was Miles.”

He said they later moved over near the pond, and he saw one of the children go in and out of the water.

“I was a bit surprised as the water is not suitable for swimming. It has a lot of algae and is slippery.”

As he was leaving he saw two of the children, including Miles, “lying down near the edge of the water looking inside it”.

Channa felt the council should change the depth of the pond to hopefully prevent future incidents.

“It shouldn’t be used for paddle boating but should be there for ducks, meaning if the pond depth is around 2 to 2.5 feet it would still look good and would be safe for kids.”

Avalon Park in Lower Hutt remained closed days after a child drowned on Saturday night.

Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.

“Coming from an Asian background I have seen Kiwi kids are more independent and know that they have to take care of themselves but kids from Asian or African backgrounds are more dependent on their parents or guardian. Since the community is becoming more diverse, we and the Government can be a bit more cautious,” he said.

A Givealittle page set up to support the grieving family said Miles, his parents, and baby brother lived in Wellington.

The fundraiser, started by a family friend, would aid funeral costs and possibly help bring Miles’ relatives to New Zealand for the service.

Within 14 hours, the Givealittle had surpassed its initial $10,000 goal, and it is now above $22,000.

“Our thoughts are with Miles’ family,” wrote one donor. “He was such a beautiful and caring little boy, we are grateful to have known him and for his kindhearted friendship with [our child] at preschool. Aroha x.”

Another donor described him as “a lovely smiling face in our preschool”.

Council’s acting chief executive Andrea Blackshaw said their thoughts and prayers were with the boy’s whānau.

“A rāhui was put in place around the pond at 8pm Sunday until further notice out of respect for the whānau,” she said.

“Avalon Park is a 6ha park with a number of attractions, including the pond which is well used by the model boating club and others. Council leases the building in the park to the Avalon Pavilion Charitable Trust who manage it and make it available for community events.

“Council’s Parks and Reserves officers will review the safety arrangements in place at the park and take advice on changes that could be made.”

A council spokesman confirmed there had been one other death in the pond many years ago, when a toddler drowned in the 1980s.

The depth of the pond varies from about 1m to 1.3m.

This story has been updated to clarify when the family moved to New Zealand.

Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice, and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.