Boy, 3, dies after falling into garden pool while trying to reach water toys
Three-year-old Dion Robbins died on Saturday after accidentally drowning as he tried to retrieve his toys from the pool in the garden of his home. He was pronounced dead at the scene
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Mike Lynch's superyacht set to be brought to town where prosecutors are based
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. Salvage crews spent Saturday raising the 56-metre (184ft) yacht above the water using one of Europe's most powerful sea cranes near the fishing town of Porticello. They said that on Sunday the vessel will be taken to Termini Imerese, a town around 20km away, where prosecutors investigating the sinking are based. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into possible charges of manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Mike Lynch's superyacht set to be brought to town where prosecutors are based
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. Salvage crews spent Saturday raising the 56-metre (184ft) yacht above the water using one of Europe's most powerful sea cranes near the fishing town of Porticello. They said that on Sunday the vessel will be taken to Termini Imerese, a town around 20km away, where prosecutors investigating the sinking are based. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into possible charges of manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Mike Lynch's superyacht set to be brought to town where prosecutors are based
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. Salvage crews spent Saturday raising the 56-metre (184ft) yacht above the water using one of Europe's most powerful sea cranes near the fishing town of Porticello. They said that on Sunday the vessel will be taken to Termini Imerese, a town around 20km away, where prosecutors investigating the sinking are based. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into possible charges of manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
