Officer lagoon drowning: Ali Aminzadah remembered amid calls for more fencing around Melbourne waterway
The drowning on Mother’s Day of a little boy in a poorly fenced suburban lagoon was, according to locals, a tragedy waiting to happen.
Four-year-old Ali Aminzadah, from Swan Hill in Victoria’s northwest, was visiting relatives in Officer in Melbourne’s southeast with his parents on Sunday afternoon when he wandered off.
Less than 50 meters across the road from the house is a wetland area, where Ali was found unconscious and could not be revived.
A small fence is currently the only thing between the lagoon and the suburb.
Ali’s family and residents now want the council to improve fencing around the wetlands in the hope that a similar tragedy does not happen again.
Ali Aminzadah (pictured) drowned on Sunday after wandering from his family’s home to a nearby swamp area
Ali’s parents remember Ali as a ‘cheerful’ child with a ‘big smile’.
They also told Nine News they are furious about the lack of fencing around the lagoon.
Local Tammy Gauld agreed, describing the lack of safety around the lagoon as “an accident waiting to happen.”
“You often see children around the lake,” she said 7News.
‘I really think the council should look at the fencing and see what they can do, put something better than what is there.
‘There are many young families living here, you often see them walking by every day with their young children. So it is very worrying if a child manages to get away from his parents, there is a large body of water that attracts them.’
Ali’s family searched frantically for 30 minutes before he was found unconscious in the water. Several neighbors were walking along the lagoon at the time.
The boy could not be resuscitated and died on the spot.
A poorly maintained wire fence (photo) is the only measure to prevent children from entering the wetlands
The council responsible for maintaining the fence around the wetlands, Cardinia Shire Council, has sent its condolences to Ali’s family.
However, it would not comment on any investigations into the fence.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cardinia Shire Council for comment.
Victoria Police are not treating Ali’s death as suspicious and will prepare a report for the coroner.