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Toddler found dead after wandering off daycare centre in Mission

Click to play video: 'Daycare child drowns in Mission swimming pool'
Daycare child drowns in Mission swimming pool
WATCH: A Fraser Valley neighbourhood is in shock after a toddler wandered off from its daycare and was found in a nearby pool. Jennifer Palma reports – May 24, 2018

A toddler has died after wandering off a daycare centre in Mission, B.C. Wednesday afternoon.

Multiple homes along Hawthorne Avenue are behind tape as police continue to investigate.

The toddler, who was almost two years old, is said to have wandered off the daycare property around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Police say the daycare called for help around 10 minutes later. The centre was run out of a home.

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Police were able to eventually locate the toddler in a neighbouring yard where there is a pool. She was found unresponsive under the pool cover.

Attempts were made to revive her but she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

In an email to Global News, the BC Coroners Service confirms they are investigating the case.

“Coroners Service investigations look to determine who, when, where, how and by what means someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly in B.C.,” said Andy Watson. “It would be premature to comment on any other aspects of our investigation at this time.”

Police say the investigation is ongoing. No one has been charged or arrested.

The daycare

Melissa’s Bright Beginnings Childcare Center is registered under the same address to where the incident took place.

According to licensing records, the facility was last inspected in January. A number of issues were found including having five children under 36 months — two more than allowed.

“Child Care Licensing Regulation permit [three] under 36 months for In Home Multi-Age. A [sic] approved temporary placement is in place for [one] child and the Licensee will be submitting a second temporary placement request,” reads the report.
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The records showed 10 children were registered at the multi-age facility at the time, but note some records were missing.

“At the time of this inspection, a registration record for [one] child in attendance was not available. The Licensee advised that this was the second day this child attended and this child is drop-in and that a registration had been completed, however, was not able to locate at the time Licensing was on-site.”

It also noted two of the children’s records that were reviewed did not indicate the child’s immunization status.

~With files form Liza Yuzda

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