Boy, 3, dies after falling into garden pool while trying to reach water toys
A little boy tragically died in an accidental drowning just weeks before his fourth birthday.
Dion Robbins died at his home on Saturday after falling into the pool in his garden as he was trying to gather his toys. Police were called to the home in an outer Darwin suburb in Australia at around 3.30pm after the tot was found unresponsive in his backyard.
He was pulled out of the water and received CPR, but it was too late. Emergency services continued CPR but Dion was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say investigations are ongoing and that a report will be prepared for the coroner.
His family have now shared their heartbreak over their sudden loss. Dion's aunt Sue Longstaff, who started a GoFundMe to help them pay for funeral costs, described Dion as "adventurous" and said that what happened was a "family's worst nightmare."
"There are no words to describe the pain of his loss, he was weeks away from celebrating (his) fourth birthday," Ms Longstaff told news.com.au. She continued: "Three-year old Dion, a happy go lucky adventurous little boy used a stool to reach the pool latch and let himself in to collect some toys and unfortunately fell into the pool."
The fundraiser has so far achieved more than $9,000. According to figures from 2023-24, the Northern Territory has the highest rate of drownings in Australia.
The tragedy comes after several drownings in New South Wales over the Easter weekend. A nine-year-old boy drowned after getting trapped between rocks at a beach at South West Rocks, about 400 kilometres north of Sydney. Emergency crews retrieved the boy, named Kaison Greaves, but he had died at the scene.
He had been playing by the rocks with other children before he became trapped when the tide came in. Witnesses said the boy was comforted in his final moments, as his father had been able to hold his hand as he died.
Kaison's father, David, said the family was heartbroken by the loss. He said: "He was an adventurer, strong-willed and incredibly funny, and always had a cheeky grin."
The youngster became the seventh person to drown over the weekend, following a strong swell washing people into the ocean. Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving in New South Wales, told the Sydney Morning Herald: "It has just been horrendous on a weekend that's supposed to be joyous and religious."
Meanwhile, a four-year-old British boy died at a hotel swimming pool in Tenerife last month. The horror unfolded in the resort town of San Miguel de Abona on the Golf del Sur. The hotel lifeguard pulled the boy out of the water but he was unresponsive.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Spain, and are in touch with the local authorities.'
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