Five-year-old Theodore Yarnold drowns in Ipswich dam

A mother has shared her grief after suffering “any parent’s worst nightmare” when a frantic search for her little boy ended with his lifeless body found on a neighbour’s property.

Theo Yarnold tragically drowned in a dam last week. Picture: Supplied

A Brisbane mother has shared her grief after suffering “any parent’s worst nightmare”, when her non-verbal autistic five-year-old boy drowned in her neighbour’s dam after going missing.

Jazmin Spence was in the process of moving her family from Brisbane to an acreage property in Ipswich when her life changed forever.

On Sunday, February 19, about 3pm at their new property at Pine Mountain, Ipswich, her youngest son Theodore Yarnold went missing.

The family frantically searched for him and called police — sifting through shoulder-high grass across more than 8ha of land.

From a chopper, police spotted Theo however, tragically, when rescuers arrived he was unconscious and not breathing — the little boy had fallen into his new neighbour’s dam.

Ms Spence said police phoned her from the chopper about 4.15pm to tell her the gut-wrenching news.

The distraught mother sat in a police car as it followed the chopper to the hospital.

Jasmine Spence with her son Theodore Yarnold. Picture – contributed.

“He was my everything … we had such a special connection,” Ms Spence said.

“He loved the water and swimming.

“Because he was high needs he wasn’t a great swimmer but he could splash about and keep his head above water.

“The water in the dam wasn’t very deep but it was very muddy and slimy and slippery … so we think he must have slipped over.”

Police said they were preparing a report for the Coroner following the sudden death of a child at Pine Mountain on February 19.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Ms Spence, a residential receptionist in Brisbane, said Theo had a rough start to life when doctors diagnosed him with a serious heart condition.

Theo Yarnold tragically drowned in a dam last week. Picture – contributed.

“He had a vascular ring heart condition and when he had his surgery at just 10 months old they accidentally nicked his vocal chords,” she said.

“He was very high needs and non-verbal. But I understood him and the way he would communicate.

“He’d talk to you with his entire body. His face would just light up, he’d be smiling ear to ear, his body would almost tremble from excitement and he’d make these happy noises.”

Since the tragedy, Ms Spence said it has been as if she is living a nightmare she might never wake up from.

“Luke (Theo’s father, and Ms Spence’s partner) and I are just really struggling … no parent should ever have to go through this,” Ms Spence said.

“Theo was one of a kind … his smile would melt you, he was just so beautiful.

“For a kid that couldn’t talk he was so smart too. Really great at problem solving and ahead of lots of other kids his age.

“He had this little giggle which was adorable too.

“There’s no words to describe him. He was just so pure and was such a happy little soul.”

Theo’s favourite movie was Ice Age and he loved blowing bubbles, and playing with playdough.

He also loved music and dancing – spinning around was his favourite dance move.

A close friend of the family, Faith Barker, started a GoFundMe page to raise money for

Theodore Charlie Yarnold as a baby. Picture: Contributed

Theo’s funeral. More than $8000 had been raised by Monday afternoon.

“As you can imagine how painful and sad this time is for the family. It is the worst thing a parent could ever go through and my heart aches for them,” Ms Barker said.

“I want to help ease the burden and try and raise money for funeral costs.

“If you can help anyway you can please do.”

Loved ones have taken to social media to share the GoFundMe page and their condolences for the family.

“Beautiful Theo in his short five years never had it easy,” Roukaya Massri said.

“Because of his health his parents have had to struggle and struggle with him and for him. They’ve been hit with obstacle after obstacle along the way but they kept pushing forward for him with the love and desires for a good healthy life and a fair chance — any loving parent would want for their child, they wanted that for their beautiful Theo.

“Tragically, after everything he’s gone through and they’ve gone though, beautiful Theo has left this world in such a tragic way. It’s heartbreaking.

“I’m hoping you can help to ease some of the burden for his parents during this hard time by contributing even a small donation towards his funeral costs please.”

Theo’s funeral will be next week on March 7, with family set to release details to friends and family.