Latest news with #DionRobbins
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Dion Robbins' family remembers ‘adventurous' little boy after accidental drowning
The family of a three-year-old boy who died just weeks before his fourth birthday in an accidental drowning have shared their heartbreak at their loss. Dion Robbins tragically drowned at his home in an outer Darwin suburb on Saturday after falling into the pool while trying to collect his toys. Northern Territory police said they were called to the Palmerston home about 3.30pm after Dion was found unresponsive in his backyard. He was pulled from the water and received CPR before police and ambulance crews arrived shortly after. Emergency services continued CPR but Dion was pronounced dead at the scene. Describing the incident as a 'family's worst nightmare', Dion's aunt Sue Longstaff started a GoFundMe to help them lay their 'adventurous' little boy to rest. 'There are no words to describe the pain of his loss, he was weeks away from celebrating (his) fourth birthday,' Ms Longstaff said. '3-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.' Dion's death has left the local community reeling, with the family's fundraiser passing $9000 by noon on Tuesday. Ms Longstaff expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support on behalf of Dion's parents Chris Robbins and Amber Fennell and the rest of the family. 'The family is understandably devastated and would be forever grateful for any support their local community might be in a position to provide so that little Dion can be laid to rest respectfully,' she said. Another aunt, Lizzie Robbins told the NT News that Dion was a 'caring and loving little boy'. 'Any room he walked into he made people smile and laugh,' Ms Robbins said. 'He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. 'They were the two amigos – always getting into mischief together.' The incident comes as data from Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) reveals the Top End had the highest rate of drowning deaths per 100,000 people in 2023-24. Of the five drowning deaths reported in the Northern Territory in the financial year, two occurred in swimming pools. RLSA's national summer drowning toll shows the number of drowning deaths occurring in swimming pools across Australia doubled in 2025 compared with last summer, rising from 5 to 11 per cent.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Worst nightmare': 3yo's tragic drowning
The family of a three-year-old boy who died just weeks before his fourth birthday in an accidental drowning have shared their heartbreak at their loss. Dion Robbins tragically drowned at his home in an outer Darwin suburb on Saturday after falling into the pool while trying to collect his toys. Northern Territory police said they were called to the Palmerston home about 3.30pm after Dion was found unresponsive in his backyard. He was pulled from the water and received CPR before police and ambulance crews arrived shortly after. Emergency services continued CPR but Dion was pronounced dead at the scene. Describing the incident as a 'family's worst nightmare', Dion's aunt Sue Longstaff started a GoFundMe to help them lay their 'adventurous' little boy to rest. 'There are no words to describe the pain of his loss, he was weeks away from celebrating (his) fourth birthday,' Ms Longstaff said. Dion Robbins drowned before his fourth birthday. Credit: NewsWire '3-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.' Dion's death has left the local community reeling, with the family's fundraiser passing $9000 by noon on Tuesday. Ms Longstaff expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support on behalf of Dion's parents Chris Robbins and Amber Fennell and the rest of the family. 'The family is understandably devastated and would be forever grateful for any support their local community might be in a position to provide so that little Dion can be laid to rest respectfully,' she said. Another aunt, Lizzie Robbins told the NT News that Dion was a 'caring and loving little boy'. 'Any room he walked into he made people smile and laugh,' Ms Robbins said. 'He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. 'They were the two amigos – always getting into mischief together.' The incident comes as data from Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) reveals the Top End had the highest rate of drowning deaths per 100,000 people in 2023-24. Of the five drowning deaths reported in the Northern Territory in the financial year, two occurred in swimming pools. RLSA's national summer drowning toll shows the number of drowning deaths occurring in swimming pools across Australia doubled in 2025 compared with last summer, rising from 5 to 11 per cent.
West Australian
5 hours ago
- General
- West Australian
Northern Territory: The family of Dion Robbins, who tragically drowned, have spoken of their loss
The family of a little boy who drowned over the weekend in Palmerston has spoken of their profound heartbreak following the loss of their 'loving little boy', three-year-old Dion Robbins. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday afternoon when Dion, an adventurous and happy child, used a stool to reach the backyard pool latch and let himself in to retrieve some toys. Around 3:30pm, he was found unresponsive in the water. Despite CPR efforts by family, paramedics and Northern Territory police, Dion was pronounced dead at the scene. His aunty, Lizzie Robbins, shared her family's grief with the NT News . 'Dion was the most caring and loving little boy... any room he walked into, he made people smile and laugh,' she said. 'He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. They were the two amigos — always getting into mischief together.' Dion was just weeks away from celebrating his fourth birthday. Sue Longstaff, another aunty of Dion's, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support the family during this devastating time. 'There are no words to describe the pain of his loss,' Ms Longstaff wrote. 'The family is understandably devastated and would be forever grateful for any support their local community might be in a position to provide so that little Dion can be laid to rest respectfully.' The tragedy sent shockwaves through Palmerston, with the community fundraising over $4000 by Monday afternoon. Ms Robbins extended her heartfelt thanks to those who have donated on behalf of Dion's parents, Chris Robbins and Amber Fennell. 'The family really appreciates the support they're getting at this trying time,' she said. Dion's death comes amid alarming statistics on drowning in the Northern Territory. According to Royal Life Saving Australia's 2024 report, the NT recorded the highest drowning rates per capita across both regional and metro areas in the country. The Top End had the highest rate of any regional area — 6.06 per 100,000 — while Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield topped metro areas at 2.4 per 100,000. While natural waterways account for the majority of drowning deaths in the NT, backyard pools still pose a significant danger to young children. Since 2014, 28 per cent of the Territory's 68 drowning deaths have occurred in pools, with 37 per cent taking place in rivers and creeks.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- General
- Perth Now
‘No words for the pain': Family mourns 3yo, after tragedy
The family of a little boy who drowned over the weekend in Palmerston has spoken of their profound heartbreak following the loss of their 'loving little boy', three-year-old Dion Robbins. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday afternoon when Dion, an adventurous and happy child, used a stool to reach the backyard pool latch and let himself in to retrieve some toys. Around 3:30pm, he was found unresponsive in the water. Despite CPR efforts by family, paramedics and Northern Territory police, Dion was pronounced dead at the scene. His aunty, Lizzie Robbins, shared her family's grief with the NT News. 'Dion was the most caring and loving little boy... any room he walked into, he made people smile and laugh,' she said. 'He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. They were the two amigos — always getting into mischief together.' Dion was just weeks away from celebrating his fourth birthday. Sue Longstaff, another aunty of Dion's, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support the family during this devastating time. 'There are no words to describe the pain of his loss,' Ms Longstaff wrote. 'The family is understandably devastated and would be forever grateful for any support their local community might be in a position to provide so that little Dion can be laid to rest respectfully.' The tragedy sent shockwaves through Palmerston, with the community fundraising over $4000 by Monday afternoon. Ms Robbins extended her heartfelt thanks to those who have donated on behalf of Dion's parents, Chris Robbins and Amber Fennell. 'The family really appreciates the support they're getting at this trying time,' she said. Dion's death comes amid alarming statistics on drowning in the Northern Territory. According to Royal Life Saving Australia's 2024 report, the NT recorded the highest drowning rates per capita across both regional and metro areas in the country. The Top End had the highest rate of any regional area — 6.06 per 100,000 — while Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield topped metro areas at 2.4 per 100,000. While natural waterways account for the majority of drowning deaths in the NT, backyard pools still pose a significant danger to young children. Since 2014, 28 per cent of the Territory's 68 drowning deaths have occurred in pools, with 37 per cent taking place in rivers and creeks.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Grief-stricken family of toddler who drowned at home weeks before his fourth birthday break their silence
The family of a toddler who drowned just weeks before his fourth birthday have lifted the lid on the immense heartbreak of losing their 'most caring' boy. Three-year-old Dion Robbins drowned in the swimming pool at his Palmerston home in the Northern Territory on Saturday afternoon. The happy-go-lucky adventurous boy used a stool to reach the pool latch and let himself in to collect some toys but he tragically fell into the pool. Dion's aunty Sue Longstaff has started a GoFundMe page to support the family. 'There are no words to describe the pain of his loss, he was weeks away from celebrating fourth birthday,' she wrote on the page. 'The family is understandably devastated and would be forever grateful for any support their local community might be in a position to provide so that little Dion can be laid to rest respectfully.' One of Dion's other aunts Lizzie Robbins said the family was overcome with grief. 'Dion was the most caring and loving little boy... any room he walked into he made people smile and laugh' Ms Robbins told NT News. 'He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. 'They were the two amigos - always getting into mischief together.' The GoFundMe has raised nearly $8,500 of the $16,000 target as time of writing. Sophie Higgins made a $200 donation to the family. 'Thinking of you all through this heartbreaking time,' she said. 'Dion was such a confident and cheeky boy that we enjoyed seeing at childcare pickups and drop offs. Thanks for being Tilly's little friend, love the Higgins family.' The incident comes after the Northern Territory records Australia's highest rates of drownings of all regional areas in Australia in 2024 with 6.06 per 100,000 people, according to a Royal Life Saving Australia report. Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield had the highest drowning rates of all metropolitan areas in Australia at 2.4 per 100,000. Floss Roberts, from Royal Life Saving NT, said the disturbing statistics were the result of a number of different factors. 'The NT has a very high number of home swimming pools and spas,' Ms Roberts said. 'Our extremes of living in a tropical climate also puts Territorians more at risk of drowning than other states.' Up to 37 per cent of drownings recorded in the NT over the last decade were in rivers or creeks. In the same period, 28 per cent of the 68 drownings occurred in pools.
