Plettenberg Bay police have opened an inquest docket following the fatal drowning of a three-year-old child.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute, emergency services were deployed in the New Horizons area after being alerted to reports that a toddler had gone missing.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon says the toddler is believed to have fallen into a pond of water at a stormwater reservoir, where the child’s body was later found.

“Water extrication pumps were deployed by rescue and municipal teams to drain the pond where the body of the child was located, sadly deceased. The body of the child was recovered in cooperation with Police and Government Health Forensic Services,” said Lambinon.

Lambinon advised that the Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services have taken in the body of the three-year-old.

“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased child. The family, and those affected by this tragedy, are in the care of Police and Municipal authorities,” added Lambinon.

The Western Cape SAPS has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway, noting that the drowning incident occurred at Green Oak Field in New Horizon.

“According to reports, a four-year-old boy drowned on a ditch while playing with his friends,” said SAPS spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala.

*This article has been updated and edited, and now includes a comment by the Western Cape SAPS.