13 Jun 2013

Toddler drowns on Southland farm

9:56 pm on 13 June 2013

The Department of Labour is investigating the death of a toddler on a Southland farm, after he drowned in a rubbish hole on Wednesday.

Charlie Aaron Unwin wandered off from his home on a Mandeville farm, where he was being looked after by a family member.

The two-year-old was found in the flooded household rubbish dump a short time later, about 4pm.

A Gore police spokesperson says the hole is a short distance from the house, across a driveway and was not fenced off.

The spokesperson says the boy's death is a tragedy for the family and the farming community.

The family is receiving help from Victim Support.