Schoolboy drowns in New Grant pond

A 12-YEAR-OLD schoolboy yesterday drowned when he went swimming after school with friends in a New Grant pond. Dane Andrews, a pupil of the New Grant Government Primary School, was fished out by villagers yesterday  from the 30-foot pond off the Monkey Town Second Branch Road, New Grant. Andrews, who lived about three miles from the pond, was a Standard Five pupil of the school. He had left school on Wednesday with his classmate, Akeem Emmanuel, 12. A police report stated that on their way home, Andrews asked Emmanuel for a short pants because he wanted to go to the pond for a swim.

Emmanuel took Andrews to his home and lent him a short pants. After Andrews changed, the report stated, he left with three boys to go to the pond. Emmanuel did not go along with Andrews. Andrews, who had left his shoes, book bag and uniform at Emmanuel’s home, did not return for them that afternoon. Yesterday, Andrews’ mother, Avril, 35, told Newsday that when her son did not return home from school, she went in search of him. However, Avril said, no one had seen him, but at about 7 pm, Emmanuel came to her home with his mother. He handed her Andrews’ schoolbag, clothes and shoes, she said.

Avril said that Emmanuel initially told her that her son had gone to “Gravel Pit” — the name given to a pond in the area. Avril said that Emmanuel, however, later told her that Andrews had gone to “Seven Barrel River.” Avril said Andrews’ uncle, Selwyn Dyer, went in search of the boy with some friends. At about 11 pm, Avril said, Dyer went to a pond off Monkey Town Second Branch Road, where he found Andrews’ underwear on the bank. Avril said Dyer also found other pieces of clothing.

Avril, a mother of three, said it was too dark to go into the water. At 9 am yesterday, a party of villagers went to the pond, and villagers Dion Fortune, 24, and Dexter Williams, 35, went into the water. Using a bamboo stick, they searched the bottom. Andrews’ body surfaced, police said, when one of the men’s bamboo rods came into contact with it. Police said the boy’s mouth and nose had spots of blood. An autopsy was expected to be performed on the body at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday.