Auckland (Avneet Kaur)
As Auckland continues to mourn the tragic death of 8-year-old Gurshabad Singh, new details have emerged about the desperate efforts made by local residents to save the young boy after he was found in a backyard swimming pool.
The elderly woman who owns the property where the tragedy occurred has described her neighbour and his grandson as the “real heroes” of the incident, saying they did everything they could to try and save Gurshabad’s life.
Gurshabad died last Monday after reportedly leaving a school transport van and later being found in a swimming pool at a private property in West Auckland.
Speaking about the heartbreaking incident, the homeowner said her neighbour and his grandson immediately rushed to help when they realised a child was in distress. She said both acted quickly and made every possible effort to save the boy before emergency services arrived.
Despite their efforts, Gurshabad could not be revived.
The tragedy has deeply affected not only Gurshabad’s family but also the wider community and the residents connected to the property where the incident occurred.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the young boy was able to leave the school transport van and make his way to the property.
The death of Gurshabad, who was on the autism spectrum, has sparked calls for a review of safety procedures surrounding specialised school transport services.
Meanwhile, members of the community have continued to pay tribute to the young boy and to those who tried to save him, with the homeowner saying the neighbour and his grandson deserve recognition for their courage and quick actions during an extremely distressing situation.
As investigations by police and other agencies continue, Gurshabad’s family remains at the centre of a tragedy that has touched people across Auckland and beyond.
