A baby has drowned at the back of his Waihi home yesterday.
Waihi police have said the tragedy serves as a warning to other parents of the dangers posed by containers holding water to small children.
Sergeant Dave Litton of the Waihi Police said emergency services were called to an address in the town shortly after 12pm yesterday.
"It appears an 18-month-old boy has been playing in the back yard of his home and been left unattended for a brief period of time.
"The boy's mother has gone to check on him and to her horror found the boy with his head and neck submerged in a plastic rubbish bin, half full of rainwater, by the back door."
Both parents have rushed the child inside and tried to resuscitate him using CPR while a visitor has called 111 for ambulance attendance.
"Attempts by the parents, ambulance officers and a doctor to revive the boy were unsuccessful. The boy's death is not considered suspicious and has been reported to the Coroner to establish the cause and circumstances of death."
Mr Litton said wherever possible if people saw containers of water around where children played, empty them out and keep young ones under as much direct supervision as they can.
Baby drowns at Waihi home
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