A family's dream of a new life in Canada turned into a nightmare Monday night after a young boy drowned in a swimming pool in Saint-Leonard.
The 6-year-old boy was the oldest of three children, living with their mother, and had only just arrived in Quebec from Nigeria (via the United States) in April.
Speaking with the Journal de Montreal, the boy's mother said they moved into their apartment two days before the tragedy.
The grieving woman said the family of four decided to leave their empty apartment and go to the pool to try and beat the heat. Before entering the water she told her son to stay close, but for a quick moment lost sight of him while tending to her other children who are 3-years and 10-months old.
It was after that handful of seconds when the boy was found under the water.
Raynald Hawkins of the Quebec Lifesaving Society told CTV Montreal, when children are involved that's all it takes.
"A drowning situation for kids is only 15 to 20 seconds. It's very silent."
According to Régie du bâtiment regulations small pools like the one where the boy drowned only require one lifeguard on duty. However, if there are more than 50 people are in the swimming area, at least two lifeguards must be present.
"It's very hard for the lifeguard to see all those patrons at the same time," Hawkins said.
It's not known how many people were at the pool Monday evening.
A coroner is now investigating to determine if all the rules were followed.