9-year-old Child Dies After Falling into Erie Basin at Red Hook’s IKEA, Brooklyn

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Tragic Death of a 9-Year-Old Autistic Boy in Brooklyn

Police sources have confirmed that a 9-year-old boy, who had autism and was non-verbal, tragically passed away after falling into the water behind a Brooklyn IKEA store. The young boy, identified as Hasebul Nehan, was reported missing on Wednesday night.

An Unfortunate Incident

According to officials, the incident seems to be a tragic accident. The young Nehan was last seen on surveillance footage heading towards the water, located just behind the IKEA store in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Nehan, who has autism and is non-verbal, was reported missing at 8:58 p.m., just two minutes before the IKEA store was due to close for the day. Nehan had been playing with his siblings inside the store when his mother lost sight of him, leading to a desperate search that ended in tragedy hours later.

A Heartbreaking Discovery

The search was extensive, involving drones, divers, K9s, and police officers. Initially, they found the orange crocs Nehan was wearing. However, the search ended in tragedy three hours after Nehan went missing, just after midnight. Authorities found him unresponsive at the water’s edge of the Erie Basin. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. It is believed that he drowned.

A Family’s Grief

Nehan’s family, dealing with the painful loss of their child, shared that he had a love for the water and the ocean. This could explain why he ran straight for the water. His mother, Abida Sultana, expressed her guilt, questioning why she had taken him to the store. His brother, Abibul Dehan, shared his sorrow, stating “I used to have so much fun with him even though he was autistic, I loved him, I’ll miss him.” The family was interviewed by the police, but no criminality is suspected.

The family’s pain and loss is immeasurable, and this tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of constant vigilance when looking after children, particularly those who are non-verbal and have conditions such as autism.

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Original Story at abc7ny.com – 2023-08-17 19:07:30

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