In a devastating turn of events, the parents of 6-year-old Airlie Montgomery are still reeling from her tragic death after she wandered off a cliff and fell to her death.
The Fateful Day: Airlie’s Last Moments
On March 16, Airlie slipped out of her front yard and made her way to a nearby rock ledge, known as The Grotto, where she tragically fell to her death.
Her body was found in the Shoalhaven River beneath The Grotto four hours after she went missing.
“No Sense of Danger”: Airlie’s Non-Verbal Autism
Airlie’s parents, Corey Montgomery and Katie Amess, revealed that their daughter’s non-verbal autism meant she had “no sense of danger” and often wandered off without a care in the world.
Facing Cruel Trolls and Grief
In the wake of Airlie’s death, her parents faced an onslaught of cruel online trolls who criticized them for not keeping a closer eye on their daughter.
Corey Montgomery hit back, saying, “Don’t you duck out to the toilet sometimes?
Don’t you come out and see your child opening the kitchen drawer about to grab a knife? Practicality means you can’t be there every second.”
Airlie’s Unique World
Katie Amess described the challenges of raising a child with autism, saying it was “hard having a child with a disability, because all your time goes into her.”
She shared heartwarming stories of Airlie’s antics, including their elaborate bedtime routine and playtime games.
A Community Rallies Around
In the aftermath of Airlie’s death, the community came together to support her grieving parents.
A GoFundMe page raised over $36,000 to cover the cost of the funeral and provide financial support for the family.
Corey Montgomery plans to register a charity to help parents of children with autism navigate the NDIS system.
A Bright Light in the Midst of Grief
Despite their unimaginable loss, Airlie’s parents are determined to keep their daughter’s memory alive.
They thanked the community for their outpouring of support, saying it had been a “bright light in the midst of our grief.”