The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TRAGEDY struck an inner city community after the lifeless body of a 17-month-old baby was found in a well near the home he shared with relatives.

As the victim’s family could not be reached yesterday for comment, Supt Stephen Dean said grief overcame the child’s loved ones, especially his mother, once the discovery was made on Saturday evening. The incident occurred at around 3.30pm police said.

A police source has confirmed the child’s name as Ianno Pratt. His mother is Marissa Wright and his father is Ian Pratt.

“Once we got on the scene,” Mr Dean said, “there was a lot of crying, and sobbing, especially from the mother of the child who was inconsolable.”

While authorities yesterday would only say that the child’s body was pulled from the well at the residence

located at Pinedale Avenue by officers and neighbours. A police source confirmed that the child was with his mother who was hanging out laundry at the back of the house.

A short time later, the police source said, Ms Wright realised that her child had wandered away. She then searched the area surrounding the home before she found him in the water well.

At this time, Mr Dean said, it is still too early in their investigations to make any judgments of the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“We are still investigating and trying to piece together what could have happened. We are making an appeal to parents to always keep aware of the whereabouts of their children, especially if they may be of a tender age,” Mr Dean said.