Tangi for girl who drowned in Gisborne pool

Police were called to the scene of a drowning in Gisborne. Photo/File

A tangi for the young girl who drowned in a swimming pool in the backyard of a house in Clifford St, Gisborne house this week will be held on Saturday.

Family have asked for privacy to mourn the tragic death of their one-year-old girl, who would have turned two next month.

Last night they brought her back from Palmerston North, where a post-mortem examination had taken place for the coroner.

"Family are taking her Rangitukia for her funeral on Saturday," a family spokeswoman said.

The girl was found on Wednesday afternoon lying face-down in the water.

A family member immediately called for help.

St John Ambulance, Fire and Emergency NZ and the police rushed to the home.

"Paramedics and firefighters carried out CPR but the child could not be revived," a police spokesman said yesterday.

Police said, at the request of the child's family, her name would not be publicly released at this stage.

Police have provided a report to the coroner on the circumstances of the tragedy.

It was the second backyard swimming pool tragedy in Gisborne this year.
A 16-month-old boy was found by family members in a pool at a property in Collins St in early February.

- Gisborne Herald