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6-year-old boy drowns on fishing trip with father in Chiba

28 Comments

A 6 year-old boy drowned during a fishing trip with his father in Chiba Prefecture on Sunday, police said. Just after 3 p.m., police received a call from a woman reporting that a boy was missing in an area around a large pond in Wakaba Ward.

A rescue team rushed to the scene and found the boy's father frantically searching the pond. The boy's body was found beneath the surface by divers about 50 minutes later. The boy was rushed to the hospital but confirmed dead soon after.

According to authorities, the boy, identified as kindergarten student Yuto Oogawa, was on a fishing trip with his father, 33. The father said he had gone to the car to retrieve fishing gear and when he returned, his son was missing. He asked a passerby to call police while he searched for his son.

© News reports

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28 Comments
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Poor tyke. Leaving a child that age around a body of water is clearly negligent...it only takes a second for tragedy to strike.

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A very sad end to a father and son fishing trip. As much as I sympathize with the father for losing his son I'm sure he wishes he could change his error in judgment. I won't even let my kids play in the bath by themselves. Drowning is called, the silent death and kids can be dead in less than three minutes. Sad!

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At six I was always alone (or with same aged friends) fishing out somewhere. Falling in water was something usual and I knew (was taught) how to swim properly even with clothes on. I am not blaming the father for anything here - obviously a very good and loving father if he takes his son out fishing. Condolences to him and his family and RIP to his son. Besides this I guess nothing else could be said.

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this story is extremely sad, but also brings to light that confuses me so much. Life jackets and car seats. I dont know why a country that 'seems' so advance and civilized doesnt use the normal everyday safety devices that have been in use for as long as I can remember. When I went fishing with my dad, lake, ocean, or large pond. we both life jackets, reguardless of our ages. I was an excelent swimmer even at a young age and him an ex-life gaurd. Why do I see parents hold their babies in their arms while driving down the highway. now that I think about it. I dont think I have ever even seen a car seat in Japan. please japan. a lot of these really sad stories could be avoided.

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a should have been a pleasant outing that turned into tragedy nobody can prevent such tragic cases, sometimes they just happen without reason and logic...they could have been prevented if we knew in advance what could happen but nobody knows the future...

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Sad story, but unfortunately there will be many similar stories coming over the next few months, as year after year these tragedies continue to occur over the Japanese summer. Such accidents obviously occur everywhere (drowning in the second leading cause of death for 14 and unders in the USA for example), but it does seem that growing up and living in densely populated urban areas leaves some people with a lack of understanding and respect for the dangers of water and nature. Whether or not that was a factor here, it will be in the coming months.

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Very unfortunate and really probably best described as an accident but tragic. I have noted from my being a SCUBA instructor in the past that although Japan is surrounded by water and has pools every where and fishing is such a big sport here, they are the worst people I know of for watermanship and drownings don't really surprise me.

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More public safety announcements with well known entertainers is needed.

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6 year old children in Japan take the train alone, go to school alone, do almost everything alone. The schools here even tell parents to not walk with them to school to teach them independence. Crazy. As for the dad, sad but what a waste. Leaving a child out of eye site is just plain stupid.

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I am not blaming the father for anything here

I too had many a fishing trips with my father as a tyke, however I do remember my moms saying "don't take your eyes off of him" to my father each time. I do blame the father! Many will argue here that this is over protective, but I'm still here today.

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Without knowing the full story or knowing the family, you can attribute blame? Just who are you?

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ah I see the Super parents are out in force again today, or the would be Super parents if they even had a kid since they know everything that could be known about proper parenting. They always seem to try to qualify or legitimize their opinions with...."ah sad story but..." then say something to the effect of how they would never take their eyes away for one second and how this is a problem unique to Japan, as if their country has 100% survival rate for minors. I wish just once you superior beings would just say "ah sad story" and leave it at that without all the 20/20 hindsight and quips about the "flaws of Japanese society and culture" as you percieve it with your oh so perfect eyes.

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The schools here even tell parents to not walk with them to school to teach them independence.

Yep - an ongoing battle I am having right now. I always answer with "stranger danger comes higher on my list of lessons for a 6 year old than independence"

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Obot2008 - ah I see the Super parents are out in force again today, or the would be Super parents if they even had a kid since they know everything that could be known about proper parenting. They always seem to try to qualify or legitimize their opinions with...."ah sad story but..." then say something to the effect of how they would never take their eyes away for one second and how this is a problem unique to Japan, as if their country has 100% survival rate for minors. I wish just once you superior beings would just say "ah sad story" and leave it at that without all the 20/20 hindsight and quips about the "flaws of Japanese society and culture" as you percieve it with your oh so perfect eyes.

Wow! What an insightful post! How many kids do you have? It's always good to get an adverse opinion regardless of how ridiculous it is.

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Back home people have to keep kid-proof fences around their pools. Pity they can't make kid-proof fences for ponds and lakes.

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with so much water around, including paddyfields with easily enough depth to drown an infant, I suggest somebody - immediately!, right now!, yesterday!, comes up with a kiddie-lightweight life jacket. Something that will be a 'must have' for all stylish kiddos and moms and pops for their little ones. Someone invent it and promote it NOW, please.

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I mean a lifejacket for 'everyday wear', not just at the sea or in boats.Theres water water water in ever street, park, play area, cafe, all temptng for children.

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I wish just once you superior beings would just say "ah sad story" and leave it at that without all the 20/20 hindsight and quips about the "flaws of Japanese society and culture" as you percieve it with your oh so perfect eyes.

Um, I think this is a forum that allows readers to voice their opinion freely with no one reader stating what should and should not be said.

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My opinion is this was a sad accident. Nothing more.

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Extremely sad. Poor family.

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My opinion is that it's low and cheap to post heartless comments regarding the death of a child, and to attribute blame on the parents envolved.

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The father said he had gone to the car to retrieve fishing gear... I'm wondering how far it was... But in the end, tragic, useless and Dad's fault... RIP little boy...

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I'm sure the dad is just overwhelmed with guilt and wouldn't be surprised in the least if he's seriously considering suicide. How horrible he must feel. Poor child - so sorry for such a short life.

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life jacket, alway put on a life jacket near water!!

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So a quick show of hands... How many of you wear a life jacket when standing near a pond? How many of you make your children wear a life jacket when standing near a pond?

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So a quick show of hands... How many of you wear a life jacket when standing near a pond? How many of you make your children wear a life jacket when standing near a pond?

Hands down on that one. I live on the shore and never have I seen anyone use a life vest for standing on the shore, fishing or otherwise... Something only a "super parent" with their wonderful 20/20 hindsight would come up with. It's sort of akin to bringing a personal parachute on a commercial plane ride in case it was going down. It's possible you may use it, but no one in their right mind would do it.

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Sad story. You dont have to be a perfect parent, everyone makes mistakes, not taking the kid with you to retrieve the gear, mistake.... Not putting any blame on the father, from the article he seemed to be a caring one. Feel really bad for him and his family....R.I.P...........

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inflatable waste pouch would good enough

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