Following the tragic loss of Luka Huddle, 2, family have thanked emergency services and the community for their support
The family of a two-year-old boy killed in a ‘nightmare’ drowning in a Lara dam have offered a heartfelt message to the community. READ MORE
Geelong
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The mother of two-year-old drowning victim Luka Huddle has thanked emergency services and members of the community for their support during what was a frantic and tragic few days for her family.
Following Luka’s passing, in a dam on a Lara property on Tuesday, Karin Huddle told the Geelong Advertiser she was doing as best as she possibly could.
“We are still so much in shock and completely numb, my heart is shattered as well as his grandmothers and his extended family,” she said.
“We would like to thank all those that have reached out to us from friends to strangers we have never even met, from the bottom of our hearts thank you.”
Over 200 people had rallied to help support the GoFundMe page established by Karin’s cousin, Erin Kester, to help pay for funeral expenses.
While she was grateful for every dollar donated, Karin said her son had been taken from her “far too soon” and nothing was going to bring him back.
“Luka was our world, he was the sun in our day, the moon in our night and everything in between,” she said.
“We love you Luka so much we will love and miss you for the rest of our lives.”
Luka was out ‘rugging up’ his family’s horses late on Tuesday afternoon with his grandmother, Sharon Huddle, when he wandered out of sight with his puppy, Poppy.
After an extensive search was conducted in the area, Luka was found by emergency services unconscious in a dam on a private residence, only a couple hundred meters from his home.
Karin and Sharon were held back by police when they arrived, told by emergency services they were “working” obn Luka.
Despite the incredibly emotional scene, the pair said they were “grateful” for everyone involved in the search and Luka’s attempted rescue.
From police officers on the ground, to the coroner who was also on scene, Karin said everyone had been “absolutely fantastic” and thoughtful throughout the nightmare situation.
“They actually held his body up so we could say goodbye to him,” an emotional Sharon told this masthead on Wednesday.
Following the incident a road closure sign has been erected on Wednesday at the end of Goulburn Park Dr.
Karin has called for the adequate perimeter fencing around the property and for the overgrown weeds and grass to be maintained.
Victoria Police are still in the process of preparing a report for the coroner.
Karin said she and her family were grieving and has asked for respect and privacy during this time.
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Originally published as Following the tragic loss of Luka Huddle, 2, family have thanked emergency services and the community for their support
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