4-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES AFTER FALLING IN LEVADA DOS PIORNAIS

Tobi Hughes·
Madeira News

A four-year-old child could not resist the injuries he suffered after falling in Levada dos Piornais last Friday. The death was eventually confirmed last night.

As far as it was possible to determine, the child fell into the waterway, ending up being dragged by the water for a few meters. He was found by passers-by who were in the area, already unconscious.

The victim was rescued and resuscitated by the Firefighters Sapadores do Funchal and EMIR, having been transported to Dr. Nélio Mendonça, where she was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

Despite the efforts of the medical teams, the boy did not resist the injuries caused. Death was eventually declared on Sunday night.

 

Previous ArticleRecord number of passengers at the Region’s airports in May
Next ArticleProblem with plane leads to closure of Madeira Airport
Tobi Hughes

15 Responses

  1. This is such tragic news. My thoughts and prayers are with this wee boy’s family and the emergency services at this truly awful time. RIP dearest soul ???

  3. This levada is in a poor and dangerous state. I have walked it a few times and have become increasingly concerned. I was going to write to you Toby to ask if anyone knew how to report such problems to authorities? I am not sure how to contact you directly rather than by comments? This levada runs above Funchal from the football stadium along the hill.It was an accident waiting to happen. There are missing slabs over it and no handrail at times.

  4. And where were the parents when this poor child fell in ??
    All too often you see parents on phones or talking to others totally oblivious to the fact their child/ children is ‘ exploring ‘ in an unsafe manner and not being looked after or guided.
    Amounts to child abuse to me ….
    Poor passers by that found the child and performed first aid – certainly spoilt their holiday.
    Why can parents not take full charge of children and watch over them in a responsible manner these days?‍♀️
    Only for the mighty rescue services to have to deal with an incident that could have easily been avoided.
    An incident will lie heavy with them too for a long long time!
    Bless the child’s passing and his family and circle of friends, a life and lifetime lost through negligence .

    1. I agree wholeheartedly, Amy. The parents should bear complete responsibility for what transpired, as they are the sole individuals at fault in this situation. It would be prudent for social services to conduct inspections involving the neighbors to ascertain how the child was treated. By doing so, a clearer understanding of the circumstances can be obtained.

      1. How can you with the few facts available call for the Social Services to be called in? Talk about pointing fingers.

    2. And where were the parents when this poor child fell in??
      You don’t know and I don’t know. The difference is on such a small amount of facts and I’m assuming you have bothered to read the newspaper report, you deem it appropriate to talk of child abuse. As to your comment, the poor passers by who found the child, certainly spoilt their holiday, I find crass beyond belief.

  5. When I last walked it last March 2023 there were several sections where occasional concrete slabs covering the levada were missing. I could see how a child could fall through and be swept away under existing slabs by the fast flowing water. If this was what happened it must have been horrific, what a terrible way to go.

  6. Oh what a tragedy ! pure Boy , pure Parents , i Never Will take children to the Levadas , RIP Little one ? no more words ! Conny

  7. Poor child rests in peace. More one reason for the tourists stop taking with them small children in their backs when hiking in the levadas and mountains this is isn’t a place to take toddlers and neither small infants .And learn this type of terrain isn’t suitably for them neither they are they are capable for this type of demanding hikes in the levadas and mountains. Leave the children in the hotel or in a day centre or pay someone to look after them and don’t take them hiking .

  8. What a tragic end to this young life. Please don’t plant your assumptions in other readers minds people, none of us is aware of the facts. We don’t even know if he was a local child or a visitor, Tobi is simply stating the known facts. We should not judge if we don’t know what happened.
    R.I.P. Little one. God Bless.

    1. Mavis
      People don’t know the facts complete right about that but I been in Madeira hiking many times in the levadas and mountains and I seen many times tourists taking their small toddlers and small infants with them and that isn’t the place to take them leave them in the hotel or residence .

  9. Isabel, we don’t know the facts, you are writing about visitors and everything you say is true but it appears the the child was local living in the area. As to the two correspondents who seem to delight in blaming the parents without knowing anything of the circumstances, words fail me.

  10. While it is the parents responsibility to look after their children I do not know the circumstances so I cannot allocate blame. They must be devastated and blaming themselves! The locals use it as a means to get from A to B. When you start on this levada it seems fine but then you come across the dangerous section! What do you do? Do you try to get past it to an exit or go back? It is not an easy decision. The authorities must take part of the blame for not maintaining it in a safe manner, like they do with other levadas! Before anyone criticises they should try to walk it themselves, west from the football stadium, past above the Forum to the no 4?? bus route!

  11. Mr Nabbs

    Parents have ultimate responsibility for their children ! End off
    Perhaps you could comment more specifically on events rather than comment on others opinions – we are all entitled to our opinions so back off and stop creating tension eh ….

Comments are closed.

© 2023 Madeira Island News | Privacy Policy