The facts
The victim, suffering from an autistic disorder, participated with his twin brother and 33 other children in a stay scheduled from August 4 to 18 at the castle of Souys, owned by the city of Bobigny, located in Saint-Menoux (Allier).
The group was “Supervised by a team of eight people – a reinforced supervision rate due to the presence of two children with disabilities“said the town hall of Bobigny in a press release.
The little boy has escaped the vigilance of its animators Friday August 15, in the afternoon.
The alert was given around 4:40 p.m., as said The Parisian. Research has been triggered. It is a diver who discovered the body shortly before 6 p.m.
The boy was “Smalled in water, inanimate”. Despite the intervention of the police and firefighters, the child could not be resuscitated.
The death was pronounced at 6:50 p.m.
The investigation
The witnesses and animators were interviewed. An investigation was opened in search of the causes of death and for “manslaughter”.
The first elements reveal that no nautical activity or swimming was scheduled that day. The group was in this sector to enjoy a play plain with slides, a hacker boat, rocking games …
The body of water was not open to swimming.
According to The Parisiana person was dedicated to the surveillance of the little boy.
Reactions
The Communist Mayor of Bobigny Abdel Sadi, “upset” According to the press release, went to the Allier with the child’s parents and an assistant.
The group quickly returned to the holiday center and psychological support was set up for children and the animation team, specifies the city.
Since the start of the year, the increase in the number of drownings in France worried. Between June 1 and July 23, 193 people died drowned, +45% over one yearaccording to the latest public health figures France.
Among them, 27 children and adolescents (15 in 2024) died.