Father, 22, creates drain lid in tribute to son who fell down uncovered manhole

Father, 22, whose two-year-old son fell to his death down an uncovered storm drain installs a lid bearing the boy's picture Damian Jantjies, 22, was playing with son Shaygan near their home in Cape Town Pair went to greet a passing friend when Shaygan fell down an uncovered drain  Mr Jantjies dived in after the boy and found him in the dark, but he had drowned  Now, he has replaced the missing drain cover with one bearing his son's face 

By Jamie Pyatt In Cape Town For Mailonline

Published: 10:40 BST, 24 June 2019 | Updated: 10:40 BST, 24 June 2019

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A grieving dad whose two-year-old son fell to his death down an uncovered storm drain has replaced the missing cover with one emblazoned with the boy's photo.

Engineer Damian Jantjies, 22, said turning the site of his son's death into a memorial means he now has only happy memories when he passes the spot.

Mr Jantjies recalled how tragedy struck at the site of the storm drain three months ago while he was with son Shaygan near their home in Cape Town, South Africa.

Damian Jantjies, 22, and son Shaygan

Mr Jantjies with the drain-hole cover

Damian Jantjies, 22, lost two-year-old son Shaygan (together left) three months ago when the boy fell down an uncovered storm drain, which he has now repaired with a lid bearing the boy's picture (right)

Mr Jantjies said he created the tribute (pictured) so that he wouldn't feel sad when he passes the spot where Shaygan fell to his death

Mr Jantjies said he created the tribute (pictured) so that he wouldn't feel sad when he passes the spot where Shaygan fell to his death

The pair had been throwing stones into a canal near the drain when Mr Jantjies spotted a friend up the road and went to say hello to him.

Shaygan followed behind but accidentally fell down the drain hole and into a river that was swollen with floodwater.  

Mr Jantjies ran back and jumped in himself, revealing that he could hear Shaygan shouting 'Dadda' as he was washed away.

The distraught father told News24 he followed his son's screams in the pitch darkness and caught up to him when he became trapped by some rocks.

Damian said: 'It was so dark down there and there was fast flowing water all around me but God just pushed me on as I needed to save him and I could hear him calling out to me.

'But when I reached him he was lying on his back and he was

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