Boy, aged two, dies after being pulled from a Wolverhampton canal by police

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.01pm on Sunday to a canal off Hendon Avenue in Ettingshall where they found a boy who had been pulled from the water by police.

Paramedics said the boy was in a critical condition and sadly died at the scene.

Wolverhampton Police urged people to avoid the area as they dealt with the incident throughout the evening. This morning they have confirmed that the child was aged two years-old and advised that their officers are remaining in the area to offer reassurance to locals.

The boy's death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: At around 5.30pm we received a 999 call and sent officers to the area. A child has sadly died after we were called to Hendon Avenue, Wolverhampton yesterday afternoon (11 August).

"At around 5.30pm we received a 999 call and sent officers to the area. A two-year-old boy was found in water near to the canal towpath. Officers entered the water and pulled the boy out of the water, before performing CPR until paramedics arrived.

"He was taken to hospital, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services he sadly died. We do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances and have referred his death to the coroner. We are supporting the family at this devastating time.

"We will have local officers in the area today to offer reassurance and support to our communities.

WMAS sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene. The first resource, an ambulance, arrived in three minutes.

This morning a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found a boy, who had been pulled from the water by police colleagues, in a critical condition.

“He was receiving basic life support by officers and ambulance staff immediately took over to administer advanced life support.

“Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, the child could not be saved and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

Last night police remained at the scene and urged people to 'avoid the area' as they stated that there had been reports that a person was in the water. The tow-path near Ettingshall road was closed."

'It's all just very shocking'

The news of the death of a boy had been met by residents with a mixture of shock and sadness.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said she had returned from work to find police everywhere and had struggled to sleep after finding out what had happened.

She said: "I was out at work at the time, but came home to find lots of police and police cars everywhere.

"I didn't know what had happened until later on and it did leave me shaken as a result because I couldn't sleep last night.

"My husband was here and told me that the paramedics were attempting to resuscitate the boy on the canal path, so it's all just very shocking."

Another woman, who also asked not to be identified, said she had just found out what had happened and was still taking it all in.