Child dies in freak mishap

SWAKOPMUND’S Vermeulen family were struck by tragedy yesterday when their one-year-old baby girl, Daniël, allegedly suffocated after her head got caught between the railings of a security gate at a day-care facility.

The day-care “mother”, Suzette Vermeulen, who has an outstanding record for the past 28 years and is well sought after for her day-care services, was clearly distraught when The Namibian contacted her for information. She said that her daughter Daniël had recently just turned one.She said the accident happened at around 9h00 in the morning.She was allegedly in the kitchen just for a short moment before returning to a tragic scene.The baby girl had apparently put her head through the railings of a security gate.It is believed that she may have slipped on the floor, causing her throat to be clamped in the railings and resulting in suffocation, according to Vermeulen.”I immediately called ISOS and in the meanwtime did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.I massaged the heart.ISOS was here quickly and took over.I don’t know if she may have been dead already,” she said between sobs.”This is truly horrible.Nothing even remotely like this has ever happened to me.”The child’s father Danie Vermeulen, declined to comment.She said that her daughter Daniël had recently just turned one.She said the accident happened at around 9h00 in the morning.She was allegedly in the kitchen just for a short moment before returning to a tragic scene.The baby girl had apparently put her head through the railings of a security gate.It is believed that she may have slipped on the floor, causing her throat to be clamped in the railings and resulting in suffocation, according to Vermeulen.”I immediately called ISOS and in the meanwtime did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.I massaged the heart.ISOS was here quickly and took over.I don’t know if she may have been dead already,” she said between sobs.”This is truly horrible.Nothing even remotely like this has ever happened to me.”The child’s father Danie Vermeulen, declined to comment.