‘I’m speechless’: Community reeling after tragic death of Lucas

Police have predicted a ‘long and protracted’ investigation into the death of a four-month-old boy in regional Qld, as neighbours recall interactions with the young family. VIDEO, PHOTOS. *Distressing

The neighbourhood where police are investigating the sudden death of a teenage couple’s baby boy has been left reeling from the tragedy, and reflecting on the interactions they had with the friendly young family.

Four-month-old Lucas died in hospital last Sunday, March 3, after being taken to Bundaberg and then the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane with a number of as yet undisclosed injuries that were “not explained”.

His parents, Alex List, 19, and Dakota Worrall, 17, have been helping police with their inquiries, with a QPS spokesperson saying on Wednesday no charges had been laid, and the investigation would likely be “long and protracted”.

Hours after Detective Acting Inspector Wade Lee told reporters on Tuesday that Lucas had sustained a number of injuries which were “not explained”, plain clothes policemen accompanied Mr List to his Bundaberg West unit.

A QPS spokesman said the investigation into Lucas' death was likely to be "long and protracted".

Speaking on Wednesday, a neighbour of the family said Lucas’ death had come as “a shock” to everyone living in the four-unit public housing block on Electra St, Bundaberg West.

“It’s f--king putrid, I’m quite speechless,” said the neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous.

“I’ve got a kid myself, it really hits home.”

The neighbour said he would often see Mr List bringing car parts into the unit, and doing work on cars in front of the property.

“I didn’t know them very well, but none of us saw the baby,” he said.

“The first time I saw (the baby) was when the ambulance came in.”

A local shop owner said the couple often came into the shop to buy drinks and hot chips, and would often play with the shopkeeper’s children.

“It’s so shocking, really tragic (it was) just a four month old baby,” he said.

Residents of the public housing block on Electra St, Bundaberg West said Lucas' death had come as a "shock" to everyone living in the complex.

The couple would sometimes use the shop’s landline when the pay phone outside was broken, although they had working mobile phones, the shopkeeper said.

Similar to the family’s neighbour, the shopkeeper said he had not been aware the couple had a baby.

“They would come into our shop, but they never said they had a kid or brought him in,” he said.

“But they were just normal customers, it’s such a shocking thing.”

Neighbours said young parents Alex and Dakota, pictured here with son Lucas, were quiet and friendly.

Another neighbour described hearing harrowing screams before paramedics rushed to the unit block.

The neighbour said she had woken early on February 26, by the sound of Dakota screaming.

“I heard the mum slamming the door, saying ‘my baby is dying, he’s not opening his eyes, I don’t know what to do,” the neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

“The father was saying ‘calm down, I’ll ring the ambulance for you’.

“Then everything went quiet.”

Soon after, an ambulance arrived and paramedics went inside the unit.

Baby Lucas has been identified as the four-month-old whose death is currently being investigated by police.

Lucas was taken to the Bundaberg Hospital and later flown to Queensland’s Children’s Hospital where he tragically died on March 3.

The neighbour said the couple didn’t work but were “really friendly” and often out socialising and while she’d “heard them arguing sometimes (she) didn’t hear them hurting their baby”.

Herself the mother of a young child, the neighbour said she was now traumatised and would be seeking the support of mental health services.

“It’s really shocking, I haven’t been involved in anything like this before,” she said.

“I’m going to get help, I can’t get it off my mind; I need someone to talk to.

“I want this to end already, I want this to end.”

Young parents Alex and Dakota pictured with son Lucas, whose death is currently under investigation by Bundaberg Police.

Mr List was seen at the units on Tuesday alongside two plainclothes police officers, carrying a baby seat containing a toy child.

Earlier, at a press conference in Maryborough, Detective Lee told reporters:

“At about 5pm on Monday, the 26th of February police were made aware of an incident that had occurred … in Bundaberg where a four-month-old child had received injuries and was transported to Bundaberg Hospital.

“As a result of the injuries suffered by that four-month-old child, that child has died on Sunday.”

He was unable to provide further comments on the nature of the injuries the baby presented with.

Initial reports indicated the Bundaberg Hospital contacted the local Child Protection Unit after the baby presented to hospital, though Det Lee said the family was not previously known to Child Protective Services and did not have any other children in their care.

“Police are currently dealing with the couple but as you can imagine this is a very distressing incident for the couple, so we are dealing with them and we are moving through the investigation as best we can,” Det Lee said.

Alex List left his Electra St unit accompanied by two police officers around 5pm on Tuesday afternoon.

He also said police were still trying to confirm the circumstances of care surrounding the baby and who was responsible for his care.

“We’re wanting to hear from the community about any information in relation to the movements of this child and this couple,” he said.

According to Det Lee, there were no other signs of abuse or neglect present on the baby, with the post-mortem of the baby still to be conducted.

“This is a particularly delicate and sad incident because of the vulnerable nature of the child,” he said.

“We understand at this stage that the couple and the child have moved around town on the day in question so we’re wanting to hear from any members of the community about the movement and the activities around the couple and the deceased child.”

At the time of publication, nobody had been charged.

Anyone with information in relation to the matter is urged to contact police.

If this story has caused distress please phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.