A coroner says he's 'troubled' multiple people were nearby as a child drowned, face down in a Tauranga fountain

Nia Lohchab died after accidentally drowning in Memorial Park in May 2023 - three days before her fifth birthday.

Emergency services were only called five minutes later, and she was pulled out eight minutes later.

Coroner Matthew Bates says while it was unlikely it would have changed the outcome, minimising time in water and starting CPR are crucial for increasing survival.

He made no formal recommendations but is urging councils to assess the safety of water features.

Signage has been added and the design of the Tauranga fountain changed.