Three-year-old boy drowns in pond while playing in grandparents' garden
A THREE-YEAR-OLD boy has drowned in a pond while playing in his grandparents' garden.
Callum Grahame Greenwood was reported missing to the police yesterday evening and a frantic search began amid fears he had been snatched.
However he was found ten minutes later in the pond and pronounced dead at hospital.
Eyewitnesses described the moment the search was launched for the toddler, who had been playing at the secluded house in Newcastle.
A man who works in a nearby charity shop said: "Last night at about 7pm a girl came out of that house, she was frantic and we heard then from people on the street that a baby had gone missing.
"People were saying he'd been snatched.
"It was terrifying, the whole community came out and everyone was running around looking in the shops and doorways for a baby.
"I saw people with tears running down their eyes in panic.
"We were all looking for a little boy in a green jumper.”
The man added: "Then we heard he had been found in the pond and it was so tragic.
"Everyone is in complete shock about it."
The house is a secluded stone property with a large garden and protected from the road by tall trees.
Northumbria Police said they were alerted at 6.45pm to a missing toddler and a search launched.
Next-door neighbour Paul Taylor, 37, a plasterer, added: "I'd been out to get an Indian and when I came back there was a massive police search on.
"They had closed off the road and the ambulance was there.
"I saw somebody in a blanket being carried into the ambulance.
"I thought obviously something terrible had happened but I didn't know what."
He added: "It's hard to believe this has happened to someone of that age."
His partner, Emma Taylor, 38, said: "We could see people crying and screaming. A woman was hysterical.
"When we saw someone being bundled into the ambulance, we still didn't know.
"The people next door are very private. We have since heard the boy was their daughter's child, who had come for a visit."
After he was found, Callum was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he was pronounced dead.
Police confirmed they are treated the incident as non suspicious and are currently preparing a report for the coroner.
Northumbria Police Superintendent Mick Paterson said: "This is an incredibly tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
"They are understandably absolutely devastated and officers with specialist training are providing them with support."
