Baby sling: mum thanks community after infant’s sudden death

A fundraising page has been established to help the family of a three-week-old boy who tragically died on the Central Coast. It comes as the infant’s mother posted a heartfelt message of thanks to the North Entrance Surf Club and the local community who rallied around her family.

Tattika Dunn and her son Harvey who tragically died during a recent check up at Long Jetty Community Health Centre. Photo: GoFundMe

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A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family of a three-week-old boy who tragically died at Long Jetty recently.

It comes as the infant’s mother posted a heartfelt message of thanks to the North Entrance Surf Club and the local community who rallied around her family in such an incredibly difficult time.

His mother Tattika Dunn took her newborn boy named Harvey to Long Jetty Community Health Centre on April 8 for a routine check up when he stopped breathing and could not be revived.

Police were initially looking at the baby sling he was brought to the check up in as contributing to his death but detectives are now investigating whether it was simply a tragic case of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Ms Dunn has thanked the community for rallying around her and her family. Picture: GoFundMe

“Just wanted to do a shout out, a massive thank you to a massive group of people who came together and helped me when I couldn’t help myself,” Ms Dunn posted on Facebook.

“I cannot go into detail as it’s still very raw and my heart feels like it’s been ripped in a million pieces but on the 8th of last month whilst going for a routine check up with my 3 week old precious baby boy Harvey passed, it happened for `no known reason’ nothing can be explained, a very much loved family member was taken from this world, he had a mum a dad and 4 year old twin brothers who loved him more then anything!

“When one of our worst nightmares came to play a community stood up and helped do things I just couldn’t, these people are now like family.”

Ms Dunn took Harvey for a routine check up at Long Jetty Community Health Centre when he stopped breathing. PIcture: AAP Image/Sue Graham

Ms Dunn thanked the North Entrance Surf Club for hosting Harvey’s memorial service, Central Coast Events for the catering and Boydita Flowers for the floral arrangements.

North Entrance Surf Club has meanwhile set up a GoFundMe page to help Ms Dunn, her fiancee and Harvey’s father Bill McGlinn and their twins Seth and Bailey.

“Bill has been patrolling this year on our beach since getting his bronze late in 2018 and Tattika is always there to help out in our canteen, both of them always donating countless hours of time, often with very little notice,” the fundraising page reads.

“Tattika had a healthy pregnancy with lots of excitement and plenty of happy planning for her arrival. Nothing could have prepared them for what was about to happen.

The couple had recently moved to the Central Coast from Sydney and Mr McGlinn became a volunteer lifesaver with North Entrance. Photo: GoFundMe

“Giving birth to their little boy was one of the happiest experience of their life but 3 weeks later turned into an indescribable one. They were faced with the unthinkable and had to say a sudden final goodbye to baby Harvey.

“Harvey was a very much loved little man who’s life was suddenly taken with unknown cause. His little heart just stopped beating. He was a beautiful baby son and brother, who will be forever in all their hearts.

“This family will soon face bills and the hardships that follow laying a child to rest. Your donation will help give them the financial help and support they need to have time to process, grieve, and attempt to heal after experiencing the worst event that could ever happen to a parent.

“It’s unimaginable to most of us to even comprehend what they must be going through. There is nothing that can be done to ease the pain that comes with such an unexpected tragedy. They will never stop loving, missing, and grieving for the loss of their son and brother.”

To contribute to the fundraiser visit: support for baby Harvey.