The mum of a young boy who drowned in a canal after "escaping" from a neighbour's home has described him as “lovely and caring”.
Madiba Diaby, five, fell into the water in Walsall, West MIdlands, on Friday.
Despite the desperate attempts to revive him, the young boy later died in hospital.
His mum, Maryam, described the incident as a “horrendous tragedy”.
She said: "He was a happy boy - always smiling.
"He would go around hugging everyone. He was a lovely, caring boy. He was never, ever a problem.”
Madiba, who had severe speech problems, was reportedly being looked after by neighbours when he unlocked their front door and ran away.
He was found a few minutes later in the canal, The Sun reports.
He was treated at the scene in Razorbill Way then taken to hospital, but died shortly after, reports BirminghamLive.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson described how police officers were able to rescue him from the water, but despite efforts to revive him he sadly passed away.
They said: "A child has tragically died after falling into a canal in Bloxwich earlier today (4 March). We were alerted to the boy being in the water, off Razorbill Way, at around 12.15pm.
"He was pulled out of the canal by police officers and despite efforts to revive him he was confirmed dead shortly after arriving at hospital.
"There are no suspicious circumstances and our thoughts are with his family, and the rest of the community, at this deeply distressing time."
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman added: "We were called at 12.16pm to reports of an incident in the water off Razorbill Way, Walsall.
“Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a Critical Care Car from Midlands Air Ambulance and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.
"Upon arrival we found a child in a critical condition. He received treatment from ambulance staff on scene.
“He was conveyed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further treatment.”
