Christmas Day tragedy as two-year-old girl dies after falling into pond as family pay heartbreaking tribute
A GoFundMe appeal for Isobel has so far raised £16,000
A GIRL of two drowned in the garden pond on Christmas Day after briefly wandering away from her family.
Isobel Maxwell had been playing with her new toys in the house when the adults suddenly realised she was missing.
They rushed outside to discover she had fallen into the pond and was unconscious.
After pulling her clear they frantically performed CPR until an ambulance arrived but medics were tragically unable to save her.
Heartbroken mum Tamara Wallace paid tribute to the tot on behalf of her and dad Aaron.
She said: “Isobel my sweet, sweet girl, our hearts burst with love for you, this is never a goodbye as we know you are near, mummy and daddy will see you soon
“Everyone who knows Isobel and us knows how gifted she was and that she lived more in her two years than some children do in a lifetime.”
Tamara, who is pregnant with their second child, said she wanted people to remember Isobel “for the magic girl she was and the adventure and fire she had in her soul and how much light she brought, not for her sad passing.”
She added: “We will raise her baby brother the same way and he will know he has a sister and that she is and will continue to be amazing.”
The tragedy happened at the family home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, after Isobel and others had opened their presents.
Her parents had not installed the pond themselves, it was already there when they moved into the house which they are in the process of renovating.
It was fenced off to make sure it was safe but somehow Isobel gained access to it and fell in while the rest of the family were inside.
Isobel’s aunt Abigail Maxwell, who has launched a GoFundMe appeal to cover funeral and counselling costs, said: “It is a struggle to put this into any kind of words.
“Isobel was the happiest, smiliest, most adventurous and curious little girl. She lit up the lives of everyone.
“All of us are absolutely heartbroken.
“It was Christmas, we were celebrating as a family. Our girls, two best friends, were surrounded by everyone playing with their new toys between the living room, kitchen and playroom.
“We couldn’t find her for a moment and in that moment, she’d gone in the garden and fallen in the pond.
“A pond that was not there through choice but due to a house move, their forever home which they were renovating.
“A pond that had a temporary fence around it, in a garden she would never have accessed by herself. A tragic accident.
“We did CPR until the ambulances came, she was taken to hospital but sadly couldn’t be saved.”
She said Isobel’s parents want to create a fairy garden in her memory and added: “She deserves a special place where her magical personality can be remembered and her spirit live on.”
The appeal has so far reached £16,000.
South Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.
Source: https://www.thesun.ie/news/16307186/girl-dies-pond-fall-family-tribute/
