A child required hospital treatment after being pulled through an opening in the seawall of the Victoria Marine Lake and swept out to sea.
The “serious incident” at West Park has prompted an urgent warning for the public to stay away from the site.
The child was rescued and, after being treated at the Emergency Department, was discharged with minor injuries.
The Infrastructure Department was recently notified of the incident, which occurred on Sunday 21 June, and has since carried out a further assessment of the site.
Immediate measures are now being implemented to reduce the risk, including the installation of enhanced warning signs, while additional physical barriers and engineering interventions are also being considered.
Islanders are being urged not to swim in or near the Victoria Marine Lake under any circumstances, not to walk around the structure, and to ensure children are closely supervised in the area.
Infrastructure Minister Deputy Jonathan Renouf said the Island had been “extremely fortunate” that the incident had not ended in tragedy.
“While the child involved thankfully escaped with minor injuries, under different circumstances the outcome could have been far more serious, and potentially fatal,” he said.
“The safety of Islanders and visitors is our first and immediate priority.
“We are reinforcing existing safety warnings and urgently assessing further measures to reduce the risks posed by the current condition of the Marine Lake.
“I am asking everyone to follow the safety advice and stay out of the Marine Lake at West Park while this work is undertaken.
“Engineers are now assessing options to address the immediate risks and develop longer-term solutions for the site.”
