Questions raised over handling of emergency situation at Tinana

Police say the death of 23-month-old Onyx Packer is not being treated as suspicious, with a report now being prepared for the coroner.

Little Onyx Packer drowned in a dam near the Country Stopover Caravan Park where he was living with his dad.

The grandfather of a toddler who tragically drowned in a Tinana dam in June has questioned the resuscitation efforts of police officers.

Onyx Packer was just a week off turning two when he fell into a dam on a private property near the Country Stopover Caravan Park on the Bruce Highway south of Maryborough, some time before 10.40am on Friday, June 27.

Despite efforts of emergency service crews to revive the boy, he could not be saved.

Onyx’s grandfather Troy Packer, who lived at the caravan park with Onyx and his father Kyle Packer, has questioned the efforts of police officers who to help his grandson before paramedics arrived.

He questioned whether officers followed correct CPR protocol. He claims they only put the toddler on his side one time to clear fluid from his lungs — something he said paramedics did immediately upon arrival.

“How can he come back when he can’t breathe?” Mr Packer said.

When asked about the family’s concerns a Queensland Police Service spokesman said police would prepare a report for the coroner following the non-suspicious death of the child on June 27.

“As this matter is now before the coroner and for privacy reasons, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The incident unfolded in minutes, Mr Packer said.

He claimed his son, Kyle, had gone to the toilet when Onyx got out of the van and walked to the dam.

The family’s blue heeler had escaped and they believe Onyx followed the dog and made his way toward the dam.

“Onyx had never gone near that water before,” Mr Packer said.

Onyx Packer’s grandfather Troy believes the overgrown grass made it harder to see Onyx before he reached the dam.

Kyle told his father he noticed the home had gone quiet and ran outside, he estimated it took him less than five minutes to notice he was missing.
His cries for Onyx caught the attention of other residents at the caravan park.

Mr Packer said he told Kyle to search the waterways, and that was when Onyx was found.

The family estimates it took 15-17 minutes to find Onyx, and they believe he spent up to eight minutes in the dam.

Mr Packer said he felt the outcome might have been different if the grass around the property had been better maintained.

“If that grass wasn’t so long, maybe Kyle could have seen him.”

The family had lived at the site for five years.

Mr Packer said more needed to be done to prevent children from accessing water hazards in areas so close to caravan parks.

Troy said Kyle had moved in with him at the property after leaving the United Caravan Park over concerns about the environment.

At the time, Kyle was living with his partner and their toddler Onyx.
But when they moved Kyle’s partner and Onyx’s mum, Chara Lucianne, chose to “take her own path,”and not move with him, Mr Packer said.

The grieving family shared a heartbreaking statement to social media in the days after his death.

Chara updated her Facebook profile with the words “Onyx Mathew is my sunshine” and the dates of her son’s birth and death.

Little Onyx Packer drowned in a dam near the Country Stopover Caravan Park where he was living with his dad.

“Forever 2,” she wrote.

A statement was also released by Kyle and his family last Thursday.

“Dearest Onyx Mathew Packer, since you came into this life you have brought joy and love,” it read.

“We are all grateful for the time spent with you and the treasured memories we as a family will keep forever in our hearts.

“You are loved by everyone who crossed paths with you special boy.

“May your wings fly high till we see you again.”

Onyx Packer was just one week away from his second birthday when he fell into a dam on a private property bordering the Country Stopover Caravan Park and drowned.

Ty Algar said on Wednesday he had witnessed the event’s tragic unfolding.

Onyx had gone missing about 10.40am that day, he said.

“I knew they had a dog and normally the dog gets out,” he said.

“Then I heard the dad shout, ‘Onyx!’

“So, I started getting people to look around.”

An aerial view of the Country Stopover Caravan Park in Tinana.

He said within a few minutes everyone had started to panic and shout out, desperately trying to locate the little boy.

“Even I was screaming at one point,” Mr Algar said.

“I don’t know why, but I just decided to go over towards the dam.”

Mr Packer saw Onyx in the dam and soon after police arrived and began desperately trying to resuscitate him.

“I’ve seen a lot of shit happen in my life, but not like this with f*****g kids,” Mr Algar said.

Sadly, Onyx could not be resuscitated.

Onyx Packer was just one week away from his second birthday when he fell into a dam on a private property bordering the Country Stopover Caravan Park in Maryborough.

A Country Stopover employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was disappointed by a television station and Facebook reports that the dam was on the caravan park property, when it was not.

“When someone puts the wrong information out there, it gives you a bad name,” they said.

They also said they were not made aware of the incident until “very late Friday arvo”.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed on Wednesday paramedics had attended the scene.

She said further information could not be provided as investigations were ongoing.

A police spokeswoman said a report would be prepared for the coroner “following the non-suspicious death of a child on June 27”.

“As this matter is now before the coroner and for privacy reasons, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Originally published as Questions raised over handling of emergency situation at Tinana