Police accept the findings of Coroner Gary Evans into the inquest of two-year-old Aisling Symes, noting that he finds that there was nothing the Police could have done to prevent Aisling’s tragic death.
The coroner accepted advice from a court appointed expert that it was “highly improbable that Aisling could have been recovered alive at the time of the first inspection of the manhole”.
The Coroner referred in his report to the need for police to debrief frontline staff on the night.
Superintendent Bill Searle, Waitemata District Commander, said this was already being done. A form developed by Auckland Police Search and Rescue has been circulated to all SAR supervisors throughout the country. Police processes have been changed to ensure ‘hot debriefs’ are now conducted in such cases, and this will be reflected in the updated police manuals.
He said officers involved in the search for Aisling were highly motivated to find the little girl whose death had struck a chord with everyone.
“Our sincere condolences are with the Symes family on their tragic loss.”
Ends
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Kaye Calder
Public Affairs
Police National Headquarters
Tel 04 460 2986