Boy, 2, who drowned in pond was obsessed with water
A two-year-old boy from the Shropshire/Welsh border who died after falling into a neighbour's garden pond had an obsession with water, an inquest has been told.
Harvey Lee Williams died after being found in the pond garden in Froncysyllte, near Chirk, on December 9.
He was airlifted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital but despite the best efforts of medical staff he died from the effects of drowning, the inquest in Ruthin was told yesterday.
John Gittins, coroner for North Wales Central, read a series of statements during yesterday's inquest, which was attended by several members of Harvey's family. He ruled the boy's death was an accident.
In a joint statement, Harvey's mother Amy Dipper and her partner Daniel Leach said they were moving house from Froncysyllte when the tragedy happened.
The couple said they had been together for about seven months and said although Harvey had autism he was like every little boy.
They said the youngster had an obsession with water and liked puddles.
The inquest heard that on the morning of December 9 Harvey was playing outside the family home in Pleasant View in Froncysyllte with his four-year-old brother while the couple were packing up to move house.
They were moving house because they felt their new home would be safer for Harvey as it had an enclosed garden, the inquest was told.
Mr Leach said at about 11.50am it was discovered Harvey had gone missing and after about 20 minutes he checked a neighbour's garden about 150 yards down the road from the family home.
He said he saw Harvey in the garden pond, face down.
Mr Leach said: "We went out frantically looking for Harvey. I panicked. I can't remember how I got to the pond.
"I found Harvey face down in the pond. I grabbed hold of him. His eyes were partially closed. He was not breathing. I started CPR."
Mr Leach said at one point Harvey was sick and said he noticed a bump was forming on the boy's head as he tried to save him.
After an ambulance was called the youngster was airlifted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital for further treatment.
The couple arrived at the hospital's accident and emergency department to be told by doctor's Harvey was "very poorly" but medics were working on him.
Doctors then had to tell the couple the tragic news that Harvey had died.
The couple said in their statement: "We were there, holding him, when he took his last breath."
The inquest was told although Harvey had poor mobility he was a good climber.
They added: "He was loved by us all."
Susan Fergus, the owner of the property where Harvey was found, said the garden was secure and said she had never seen Harvey at the property and had never had problems with children trying to access the garden in the past.
A post mortem examination was carried out at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children'sHospital.
The cause of death was given as drowning.
The coroner told Harvey's grieving family he had concluded that the death was an accident.
He said it was likely the bump on the youngster's head had occurred when he fell into the garden pond.
Mr Gittins said: "It took only a moment. I have no doubt these things on occasions simply are going to happen.
"It is a huge, huge loss to you."
He said he was sure the couple had a borne a "heavy burden" from the tragedy but said he hoped through time and through the support of family and friends they will be able to remember Harvey as a "lovely little boy".
