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Prosecutors Close Case in Death of Three-Year-Old Who Suffocated in Garden Sandpit

An autopsy found the boy suffocated in sand with no sign of negligence.

Overview

  • The boy, who fell headfirst Tuesday while playing in his family's garden in Grotegaste, lost consciousness in a hole he had dug in the sand.
  • Rescuers tried to revive him for about two hours and flew him by helicopter to Oldenburg, but he died at the hospital.
  • Prosecutors in Oldenburg and Aurich said the autopsy showed suffocation and they will close the death inquiry with no evidence of third-party involvement.
  • Local responders described the material as ordinary sand in a small quantity, and a crisis team supported the parents after the incident.
  • A fundraiser started by the mother's siblings has raised more than €66,000 to cover funeral costs and lost income so the family can grieve.