Koah septic tank death: Dad Glenn Taiapa calls for changes to prevent more deaths
A year after his son drowned in a septic tank, a FNQ dad has lashed the justice department and called for new laws to prevent more deaths.
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One year after his son drowned in a septic tank at Koah, Glenn Taiapa, desperate for answers, has lashed the Department of Justice over an agonising wait for a coroner’s report and vowed to bring law reform to prevent more deaths.
Tiwanaku Pineamine Taiapa, while in the care of his mother, fell into the tank at a rented rural property and died on January 2, 2022.
In a gut-wrenching turn Mr Taiapa’s former partner jumped into the tank to rescue her son and also needed help to get back out.
The rescue helicopter was dispatched but nothing could be done to save the boy.
Mr Taiapa said for months Queensland Police staff had promised the report before Christmas but documentation is yet to be released.
“Still to this day there’s no coroner’s report and the people that own the property are still using the septic tank,” he said.
“It took (investigators) six months to find out how the lid came off.”
The Whitsunday-based father said it was still not known what had caused the lid to collapse but alleged property owners had failed to make repairs.
The heartbroken dad said he had sought legal advice about a civil claim against septic tank manufacturer Everhard, however any court action could not progress until the coroner’s report had been finalised.
“I want to sue them, so many people have fallen into these things, they are not safe,” he said.
“And they are still using (the tank,) I just want to go up there with a digger and fill it in.
“So many kids fall into these septic tanks. Something has to be done, there has to be new legislation.”
A Coroners Court of Queensland spokesman said an investigation into the death of Tiwanaku was “still ongoing”.
“The Coroner is unable to complete findings until all requested documentation is received,” the spokesman said.
Frustrated by a backlog of investigations on the desk of the Northern Coroner Mr Taiapa said he felt unable to move on and put the incident behind him until his lad’s death was explained.
“I want to move on and get justice, no one deserves to drown in someone else’s s--t,” he said.
“I’m just so upset. No child deserves to die that way.
“I just got to get justice for my son and someone is to blame.”
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Originally published as Koah septic tank death: Dad Glenn Taiapa calls for changes to prevent more deaths
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