Looking back... Mother rescues toddler from dam at Whitewell Laundry

According to a report in the East Antrim Times, the child had wandered off from the garden of his home in the vicinity of the Whitewell Laundry.

The woman noticed that the boy was missing from the rear garden where he had been playing.

After raising the alarm, the child’s mother raced to the dam which was adjacent to the laundry.

There she was horrified to see her son lying face up in the water a short distance from the bank.

Without hesitation, she jumped into the water and pulled him to the shore.

She raced home with the child where his father had to give him the kiss of life to resuscitate him.

He was then taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he was admitted for observation.

Fortunately, the youngster made a speedy recovery.

The report went on to say that the dam had been at the centre of previous accidents.

There was strong feeling in the locality that a perimeter fence should be erected around the dam.