Taidyn ‘Totty’ Murphy remembered following Rockhampton drowning

A young family is grieving the loss of the “shining light in their lives” after the unimaginable happened in the family’s spa.

At just 17 months old, little Totty was only just starting to let her curious and sweet personality show, much to the delight of her parents.

Taidyn Murphy, affectionately known as ‘Baby Totty’ by her family, had just started talking this month.

Her growing vocabulary included the usual ‘mumma’, ‘dadda’, and ‘puppy’.

The ‘always smiling’ little girl had her entire life ahead of her, before a horrific drowning claimed her life last week.

It is understood Totty had been in a spa bath at her family’s home in Gracemere, near Rockhampton, when she drowned on Monday, September 19.

Baby Totty’s parents, Tahlia Brown and Cecil Murphy, are now clinging to memories of their baby girl.

Alyce Pocock has been best friends with Ms Brown since they were Totty’s age, and said she had never seen the young mum so distraught.

Taidyn Murphy, aka ‘Totty'. Picture: Supplied

“I’ve never seen Leah (Tahlia) more broken,” Ms Pocock said.

“Her dad, her stepdad and her grandad died when she was so young and she was devastated then but this is just different.

“Losing your own baby is as bad as it gets.”

Ms Pocock said Ms Brown wasn’t home when her baby girl drowned, and the guilt was eating her up inside.

“Her brother and partner were home … along with two of the other children,” she said.

“The six-year-old found her in the blow up spa on the patio.

“There was no crying or screaming … she just got up on a chair and into the spa before drowning.

“Leah blames herself for not being home when it happened. But I’ve told her that’s ridiculous, she was at work providing for her family.”

They tried CPR before driving baby Totty to Gracemere police who also attempted CPR, Ms Pocock explained.

“An ambulance then took her to hospital where she was placed into an induced coma and she was flown to Brisbane Children’s Hospital,” she said.

“We drove down to say our goodbyes.

“Totty died in hospital at about 6.40am Tuesday morning in her mother’s arms.”

Since baby Totty’s death, Ms Pocock has started a GoFundMe page to support the family.

Cecil Murphy, Tahlia Brown, with baby Totty and their three other children. Picture: Supplied/Laken Howden.

“Baby Totty Girl was the shining light of Leah and Cecil’s life,” she said.

“She truly was the happiest, sweetest, most loving baby girl to ever enter our lives.

“She was one of those kids who just loved people. She was never shy and always excited to meet new people.

“(She) loved people and was really affectionate and cuddly … it’s so unfair it felt like we were only just starting to learn about her personality.

“She also loved music and was always dancing and wiggling her little bum … her face would just light up when it came on. She was just a happy, sweet, beautiful baby girl.”

The family’s other children were still in a state of shock but Ms Pocock said thankfully they had the best mum in the world.

“Leah is such an amazing mother. So patient, warm, loving and compassionate I don’t know how she does it,” her best friend said.

“I’m in awe of her and her strength. Especially since this.

“She’s her family’s and friends’ rock, even though this has probably hit her the hardest of all.”

Money raised from the GoFundMe will go towards baby Totty’s funerals, to give their little princess the send-off she deserves.

Ms Pocock said the family was Indigenous which meant one service would be out on country and the second funeral would be at Taree, where Ms Brown grew up.

“No parent should live to see their own child die … the pain is indescribable,” Ms Pocock said.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner following her sudden death.