Norton Police and Fire Departments Search for Lost Child; Divers Pull Her from Partially Frozen Pond

NORTON — Fire Chief Shawn Simmons and Police Chief Brian M. Clark report that the Norton Fire and Police Departments pulled a missing child from an icy pond off Power Street on Friday, Jan. 17.

Dispatch received the initial call for a missing 6-year-old child at 2:28 p.m. Norton Fire Department personnel responded to the scene to assist Norton Police in the search.

Due to the proximity of the home to the water, Norton Fire personnel immediately began searching nearby Barrowsville Pond and Wading River.

Norton Police and Fire staged a rescue command post at the bridge across the street from the child’s home.

Multiple Norton firefighters quickly put on cold water rescue suits at the scene. They entered the water to search for the child.

At 3:27 p.m., divers found the juvenile in the water on the Barrowsville side of the bridge over Power Street. EMS performed life-saving efforts at the scene, and in the ambulance during transport. She was transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

Norton Fire Department and Norton Police were aided at the scene by Massachusetts State Police, Metropolitan Law Enforcment Council, and Norton Emergency Management Agency.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim,” said Fire Chief Shawn Simmons.

“Our hearts go out to the family,” said Police Chief Brian M. Clark. “We offer our condolences for their loss.”

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