A father and grandfather have begged families to fill in their fishponds after a year-old boy almost died.

Little Callum Bartlett is lucky to be alive after being found face down in the family's fish pond at their home in Byron Court, Laindon.

His mother Tracey had only left him for a moment while she answered the telephone.

Her husband Bill, 29, said: "She heard our two-year-old daughter Demi shouting 'mummy, quick' and ran out to find Callum in the pond."

The tot had somehow got through fencing Bill had put up after his father Jim, Callum's grandad, warned how dangerous ponds could be.

Callum was successfully revived - and is none the worse for his ordeal. But the incident did scare his parents - who have urged others with young children to fill in their ponds.

Bill said: "I thought the fence would be enough but it doesn't matter what you do, they still find a way throgh."

The Bartlett's have now emptied the pond, donated the fish to neighbours and have plans to turn it into a sand pit.

Lucky escape - now Bill and his dad Jim are going to fill in the pond where Callum nearly drowned

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

By Carl Eve

Reporter's e-mail: carl.eve@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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