Top End community reacts to two-year-old’s death after medical incident at Humpty Doo childcare centre

Top End parents have said they will be holding their babies closer after the death of a two-year-old girl following an incident at a Humpty Doo childcare centre.

The Humpty Doo childcare centre where a girl had a medical incident leading to her death. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

While the rest of the Territory was celebrating Father’s Day, the loved ones of a two-year-old girl returned to an emptier home to plan their baby’s funeral.

The Top End community has been devastated by the horrific news of the toddler’s death following a medical incident at a Humpty Doo childcare centre on Thursday.

Two days after being raced to hospital the little girl died on Saturday, the day before Father’s Day.

News of her death has struck a chord with fellow Territory parents, with an outpouring of tributes for the toddler and her family.

The Humpty Doo childcare centre where a girl had a medical incident leading to her death. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

One poster wrote on the Darwin Mums and Kids Facebook group that the news was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

“I can’t stop the tears welling up in my eyes,” she said.

“I’ll be holding my son a little tighter tonight.”

The mum said she was sending her “heartfelt, sincere condolences” to the little girl’s parents and extended family.

A fellow Top End mum said she could not imagine the overwhelming grief the two-year-old’s loved ones were going through.

“It brought me to tears yesterday when I heard,” she said.

“My heart aches for her and her family.”

The Humpty Doo childcare centre where a girl had a medical incident leading to her death. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Lauren Adele Lester wrote that she was “absolutely heartbroken and devastated” for the little girls’ parents, family and community.

“I hope the NT community can be there for you in this horrible time,” Ms Lester said.

Fellow mum Rebecca Fraser said it was horrible to think of a childcare centre as a place of tragedy and death. `

“(It’s) somewhere your babies are supposed to be safe until you return to collect them,” Ms Fraser said.

For many parents, the toddler’s death underscores their own anxiety when sending their babies to early childhood education centres.

“This is why I’m worried to put my daughter into child care,” Darwin mother-of-two Jess Lynn-Mcmahon wrote.

A mother whose child was enrolled at the Humpty Doo childcare centre said many parents chose not to drop off their kids on Tuesday.

“I imagine many families are very concerned like we are,” she said.

This publication is aware of a number of parents who are considering or have already withdrawn their children from the Humpty Doo centre until the police investigation is complete.

The Top End community has also rallied around the daycare workers who faced “every educator’s worst nightmare” as they tried to revive the little girl.

Tributes have flowed from the Top End community following the death of a young girl. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“What an awful situation for both the family and staff of the centre. I hope they’re all being supported,” one mother wrote.

A support service for bereaved parents, Amber NT, confirmed it was available to support anyone impacted by the loss of the toddler.

General manager Katy Chin said the two-year-old’s death was “tragic”, and would have a profound effect on her family and friends, as well as the first responders and daycare staff who tried to save her.

“We understand that there is no timeline on grief so there is no time frame on when they contact us,” Ms Chin said.

Originally published as Top End community reacts to two-year-old’s death after medical incident at Humpty Doo childcare centre