Distraught family members in bid to be with parents of baby girl killed in magpie attack

Relatives of the cherished baby girl who died when her mother fell trying to protect her from a swooping magpie are trying desperately to get into Queensland while $115k has been raised to support her parents.

A small knitted heart with the words ‘Fly High Little Mia” now lies in the park where a cherished baby girl took her last walk with her parents.

The five-month-old died tragically when her doting mother fell while carrying her after trying to protect her from a swooping magpie in Glindemann Park at Holland Park West on Sunday.

Parents Simone Francis and Jacob Power have been left inconsolable by the death of their little girl who was perfect “from her head full of hair, to her tiny little nose and her little long toes”.

Their distraught family members were on Tuesday looking to gain an exemption to get into Queensland to be by their sides.

“No words can begin to describe the torture Jacob and Simone are going through,” Mia’s aunt Sophie wrote on an online fundraising page.

“A life cut so short, much sooner than any one of us expected.

“Mia was and forever will be the light of Jacob and Simone’s lives.

“Mia’s arrival made Jacob and Simone’s lives complete, they constantly doted over her, showered her with love, and shared her for all their loved ones to adore.”

Five-month-old Mia died when her mother fell while carrying her trying to avoid a swooping magpie.

Brisbane City Council have launched an urgent investigation into its management of magpie incidents after The Courier-Mail revealed that at least one local resident had complained about the menacing bird up to 10 weeks before Mia’s death.

Many other locals spoke of being repeatedly terrorised by the magpie, even carrying sticks and branches whenever they left the house.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he was “not aware” how many complaints had been received by council or how they had been handled, but council would “get to the bottom of it”.

Sidney McNeale, 4, taking flowers to the scene of Mia’s tragic death. Picture: Liam Kidston

The council investigation will include a review of how council officers manage complaints and is expected to be finalised within two weeks.

Cr Schrinner said the council had installed almost 300 new warning signs on council land over the past two years. Signs were up at Glindemann Park prior to Mia’s death.

He said that Mia’s death was “unthinkable” and had rocked the entire community.

“To see the loss of five-month-old young Mia in such tragic circumstances is something that has shocked the community to the absolute core,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said on Tuesday.

“This is something no one wants to see happen, something that has never happened before and something we want to make sure never happens again.”

Brisbane City Council workers erecting more warning signs in Holland Park. Picture: Liam Kidston

More than $115,000 has been raised for Mia’s family.

“The support that has been shown to Mia and her parents has well and truly surpassed any hope or expectation we had,” Katie Hunt wrote on the online fundraiser site.

“Please know, that the money raised will be going towards their baby girls funeral expenses, an expense that absolutely no parent of a young child should have to endure.

“It will also allow them to be able to take extended leave from work whilst they find a way to grieve and find a way to start healing. Many many thanks from the bottom of our hearts.”

Flowers and toys left at tribute site for baby Mia. Pic: Liam Kidston

Money raised by family and friends will go towards Mia’s funeral and will allow Ms Francis and Mr Power to take time off work.

“Jacob and Simone have not asked for anything but time, time to grieve the loss of their stunning little ray of sunshine,” Mia’s family wrote.

“We as family will forever be here for them, to love, cherish and support them through the good times and the bad.

“Katie and Sophie are trying their absolute best to get an exemption to cross the Queensland border so they can be there to support our family, but as for now, the absolute least we can all do is to try and raise some money.”

A man praying while passing the memorial for Mia in Glindeman Park, Holland Park. Picture: Liam Kidston

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young confirmed the family had made a request to come into Queensland from New South Wales.

“Yes, I’ve asked this morning where the family lives in New South Wales so we can work through what is required,” she said.

“Of course they can come into Queensland. Then we will just work through what type of quarantine might need to be in place.

“But I don’t know where the family lives. Unfortunately we got a different surname so we were trying to find the information and couldn’t.

“But now I’ve got the surname so we can actually check, so I understand they put in a request yesterday.”

Asked if it was likely they would be put into hotel quarantine for two weeks she said: “I don’t know, I don’t know where they are from.”

Flowers left behind where Mia tragically died. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland Ambulance Service clinical support officer Tom Holland said it was a heightened and emotive scene when they arrived on Sunday after the tragic accident.

He said he believed Mia had been inside a baby carrier.

Mr Holland said the mother “unfortunately tripped in this tragic accident” after the magpie swooped.

Critical care paramedics were also on the scene treating baby Mia.

“The little one was given the best possible pre-hospital care and was transported really quickly to the Queensland Children’s Hospital,” Mr Holland said.

“Even as paramedics this is an incredibly, incredibly rare and tragic event for us to go to.

“Mia was presenting with quite a serious head injury from the incident and she received the absolute best pre-hospital care in a really efficient and timely manner which allowed us to get her to Queensland Children’s Hospital as quickly as possible.”