Family demand answers after cavoodle pup killed by loose pillar at Emerald Lakes

An evening walk at an exclusive Gold Coast street turned to tragedy when a metal bollard fell on eight-month-old cavoodle Coco. Now the puppy’s devastated owners are demanding answers. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES

A family is demanding answers after their beloved puppy was killed by a metal bollard which fell on her on an exclusive Gold Coast street.

Alex Xu was walking eight-month-old Coco and her mum Stella at about 5pm last Wednesday when the accident happened beside an ornate fountain at The Boulevard in Emerald Lakes.

Mr Xu said that while other bollards were secured to the ground by metal bolts, the one that hit Coco was not bolted down and fell on her as they walked by.

Alex Xu, Lynn Xu (holding Coco’s mother Stella), Leo, and Laura, 10, next to the bollard at The Boulevard in Emerald Lakes which fell and killed their eight-month-old puppy Coco. Picture: Regi Varghese.

With the help of a worker from a nearby restaurant the 4kg cavoodle was rushed to Animal Emergency Service Carrara where she was placed in an induced coma. Sady Coco, who suffered a fractured skull, passed away at 10am on Friday morning.

“The bollard was so heavy, she nearly couldn’t breathe,” Mr Xu said.

“She was vomiting a lot of blood and lost consciousness.

“We rushed her to animal emergency. The vet told me Coco suffered severe head trauma and put her on a ventilation machine.

“On Friday, the vet told me she was gone.”

The Bulletin understands the body corporate was only recently made aware of the incident and would conduct a “full investigation.”

Eight month old Coco, who died after a metal bollard fell on her at Emerald Lakes.

Coco being treated by veterinary staff.

The loss has devastated Mr Xu, his wife Lynn, and their children Leo, 20, who is studying medical science at Griffith University and All Saints Anglican student Laura, 10.

It has also left Coco’s mum and best mate Stella bereft.

“They were always chasing each other, playing together, eating together, sleeping together,” Mr Xu said.

“Stella is always looking for Coco (since the accident),” Ms Xu added. “She is very sad.”

The spot where the unsecured bollard fell.

The spot where the unsecured bollard fell.

The family said a local resident told them they believed the bollard had been removed to facilitate a wedding photo, but they been frustrated in their efforts to get a proper explanation of what had happened.

They said they contacted security at Emerald Lakes on Thursday to request CCTV footage of the accident but were rebuffed, while they have not yet had any further contact from the area’s body corporate.

They spoke to police but were told the incident was a civil matter. A solicitor advised them that public liability only applied to injuries to humans.

Coco on a ventilator after a bollard fell on her at Emerald Lakes.

The family said they are not seeking compensation, but are determined to find out who left the pillar loose on the ground so that no one else has to suffer their heartache.

“We want to prevent this happening again,” Mr Xu said.

“We want to find out who did this and why. Why the pillar was unscrewed and left freestanding.

“So many kids play here. If it was a toddler who was hit, it could cause a very severe injury.”

The Xu family laying flowers at the scene on Monday. Photo: Regi Varghese.

Mr Xu said he was haunted by what happened and wanted other dog owners to be aware of the danger.

“When I close my eyes there are the images of my Coco vomiting blood in my arm,” he said. “Coco was a family member, my cutest little girl.

“I don’t want compensation, I just want justice for Coco and to warn all dog lovers and the guys who left the pillar freestanding on the ground.”

Follow @keithjwoods

Originally published as Family demand answers after cavoodle pup killed by loose pillar at Emerald Lakes