The road outside the property in Thameside, Chertsey, has been cordoned off
A seven-year-old boy has died and his parents remain in hospital after emergency services were called to a house in flood-hit Chertsey.
Officers were called to the property at around 3.30am on Saturday following a request for assistance by the ambulance service.
The boy, named locally as Zane Gbangbola, was declared dead at nearby St Peter's Hospital.
His father, reportedly named as Kye Gbangbola and aged in his 40s, and his mother, in her 30s, remain in hospital in serious conditions. They are not thought to be life threatening.
Fifteen people, including two Surrey Police officers, were also taken to hospital as a precaution.
Police refused to comment on speculation the death was related to carbon monoxide poisoning, but advised anyone in the Thameside area in Chertsey who showed signs of vomiting, diarrhoea and fever were advised to seek medical assistance.
Access to the family's home was hindered by floodwaters covering nearby roads. Friends have described the seven-year-old as a "lovely little boy" who was looking forward to getting a new puppy.
A specialist team from the fire service was deployed to the scene to investigate the circumstances.
Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and people were advised to go to hospital to be checked.
Chief Superintendent Dave Miller told a news conference: "It is very sad that a young child has died earlier today - our thoughts are with his parents who are currently ill in hospital.
"Police officers are currently with them and we will continue to offer our support during this difficult time.
"The cause of the illness is currently unknown but what I can confirm is that the people who were taken ill are from a very localised area.
"We cannot rule out that there may be a link to flooding in the local area and whilst the investigation is ongoing local residents should follow sensible precautions."
Sky's Siobhan Robbins said: "Many of those properties have been flooded over the last few weeks, they have been pumping out and because of that the local community have been gathering at the Kingfisher pub just across the bridge.
"They saw the family last night, they were chatting and they were in good spirits.
"Many local people are extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the death of a seven-year-old boy."
IT worker David North, who works in Chertsey, said he saw a yellow hose hanging from a ground floor window of the property at the centre of the alert.
He said: "I saw a yellow hose coming from the front window on the ground floor. Whether it was pumping out water or something else, I don't know.
"My understanding is that this incident was found out while evacuations were being carried out due to the flooding."
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