Little Valkyrie was dead for 16 minutes in dam near-drowning, as stats reveal grim reality for dam owners

Little Valkyrie Quinn came terrifyingly close to adding to the shocking statistics that show more children under four drowned in Queensland dams than in any other state last year, and there were more deaths in dams than swimming pools. Here’s her story.

More children under four drowned in Queensland dams than in any other state last year and there were more deaths from dams than swimming pools.

The dangers of open water on rural and regional properties is being tackled head on by the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland with safety and education programs on overdrive.

“There is no doubt open water on properties is a challenge for parents. Children have a way of getting out of sight within minutes. Part of my job is to teach children in these areas about water safety,” Beverley Newton, education and training officer at the RLS said.

The 2021 Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report shows that 15 per cent of drownings were in dams or lakes and 14 per cent of the deaths were in under-fives.

Children aged five to nine made up 1 per cent of the drownings, and 10 to 14s 3 per cent. Accidental falls happened in 12 per cent of cases.

A total of 66 people died in drownings in the state in 2021/22.

“The pandemic played a part in there being more dam drownings in small children than in swimming pools. Commercial swimming pools closed down and people flocked to natural water bodies for fun,” Ms Newton said.

“In rural areas there may be neighbouring properties that have a dam that children can access. Also, some water bodies can be difficult to fence.

“The best form of defence is for parents to have a fence around their own home or farmhouse so that a child cannot get out. Supervision is a priority and we understand how that is not easy on busy properties but it’s the first step for safety.”

Valkyrie Quinn, 4, pictured with her parents Jenaya and Simon, has brain damage after nearly drowning in a dam. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Ms Newton said that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are more likely to drown.

“Research shows these children are three times more likely to drown. I work with these kids and they are often drawn to water and find it soothing,” she said.

A dam drowning accident on a family property left almost four-year-old Valkyrie Quinn with brain damage. She now suffers high level cerebral palsy and is non-verbal.

When she was 22 months the lively tot who loves dress-ups, put on her favourite gumboots and carrying a fashionable handbag she left the house.

“It was about 5.30pm and the light was fading. My husband Simon and I were on a phone call about a family member who hadn’t got long to live and we needed to go see him. Within seconds Valkyrie was out of sight,” mum Jenaya said.

“We raced out looking everywhere in sheer panic. We passed the dam and saw no sign of her. It was only on our third lap of the dam we spotted her in the water. She had been under the water and without oxygen for 16 minutes.

“Her little gumboots must have got stuck at the bottom and thankfully her feet came free of them. Simon and I had both just done a refresher on CPR and we were able to work on her for over half and hour and bring her back before the ambulance arrived.

“I can barely look at that dam and wish it would be drained.

“Valkyrie is a little warrior and needs lots of therapy. Just before the accident she was saying ‘I love you daddy’ but she always said it when he had already left for work. He never got to hear it. Now Valkyrie has lost her voice. It’s heartbreaking.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for Valkyrie’s recovery.