A heartbroken mother is sharing a warning to all parents after a split-second decision changed her life forever.
Rhiannon Egan-Lee, a Victorian mum, is speaking out about the tragic death of her 4-year-old daughter, Ivy Bella Roze, who drowned in a neighbour’s pool just before Christmas.
A Tragic Accident That Could Have Been Prevented
Ivy was described as an “adventurous” girl by her aunt, and her love for life was evident in everything she did. But on December 17, her life was cut short when she broke through the fence separating her family’s rental property from the neighbour’s and was found unresponsive in their pool. The pool had no fencing around it, despite the family raising concerns about it twice before.
A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
Rhiannon had left Ivy alone in the backyard for just four minutes to make a coffee, thinking it would be fine. But in that short time, tragedy struck. “The damage was done in the space of time it takes to boil a kettle,” Rhiannon said. Ivy was airlifted to the Royal Children’s hospital in Melbourne, but sadly, she sustained serious brain damage and died 11 days later.
A Family’s Heartbreak
Ivy’s aunt, Brittany Beeach, has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Ivy’s funeral, and so far, over $10,000 has been raised. The family is struggling to come to terms with the loss of their beloved Ivy, who leaves behind her mum, a brother, and two sisters. “She gave the strongest fight, but she’s now at peace in amongst all this,” Brittany wrote on the GoFundMe page.
A Warning to Parents: Never Leave Your Child Unattended Near Water
This tragic accident is a devastating reminder to all parents to never leave their child unattended near water, not even for a split second. The family had raised concerns about the neighbour’s pool twice before, but it wasn’t enough to prevent this tragedy. Let Ivy’s story be a warning to all parents to be vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure their child’s safety.
How You Can Help
If you would like to support the family during this difficult time, you can donate to the GoFundMe page set up by Brittany. Every little bit counts, and your donation will help the family with funeral expenses and other costs. Let’s come together to support this family in their time of need.