Toddler drowning fourth in region

Parents are being reminded to keep extra close tabs on their young children around water after a Ruatoki boy drowned in a river.
The 3-year-old was swimming with other children in a river near Ruatoki on Sunday afternoon when he was swept downstream.
He couldn't be revived when pulled from the river.
Police are not releasing further details of the incident until next of kin have been advised.
The child was the fourth person to drown in the region in recent days.
Inglis Tutuhou Henry, 72, of Gordonton, drowned near Thames about 2pm.
About an hour later, Hamilton man Wayne Tehau Belmont, 42, drowned while diving for paua with four other men off Waikato's west coast.
Mr Belmont was about 30m from shore between Kawhia and Albatross Point when he became tired and began to struggle.
A fellow diver helped him to a rock but the pair became separated in a swell.
Mr Belmont was later found face down in the water.
Hamilton police yesterday believed they had found the body of the man reported to have jumped from Claudelands Bridge into the Waikato River last Thursday.
A jetskier saw the incident but the man has been missing since yesterday.
Whakatane Coastguard president Peter Milton said it was sad to hear of drownings, especially of the young child, this long weekend.
"Supervision by adults is particularly important when children are playing around water.
"Children don't see the dangers adults do and can't get themselves out of trouble as easily," he said.
Meanwhile, visitors to Whakatane appeared to be heeding warnings around water safety, especially boaties, Mr Milton said.
Two boats had needed towing so far this summer but the people on them had not been in any danger, he said.
"We have had a lot of visitors and it's good to see that they are wearing life jackets on the water," he said.
People new to the area had been calling in and checking with the Coastguard about the best way to get their boats across the bar.
In previous years, many boaties had had to be rescued when crossing the bar, Mr Milton said.
"Out-of-towners have been making themselves familiar with the bar before trying to take their boats out.
"It's been good to see," he said.
Every person on a boat taking to the water must have a life jacket available for them to wear if needed and these should be worn if conditions changed.
"At the end of the day the skipper is the one responsible to make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket. They do save lives."