Babysitter of Adelaide toddler claims he accidentally ‘slipped out of the pram’

The babysitter of Ronan Davies, who tragically died after catastrophic head injuries, has spoken out for the first time. Warning: Distressing content

The babysitter of Adelaide baby Ronan Davies, who tragically lost his life after suffering catastrophic internal injuries, says he didn’t hurt the boy, insisting the toddler fell in an accident.

Police have considered a man – believed to be a friend of the 17-month-old’s father – a person of interest after little Ronan died not long after being in his care.

The heavily tattooed friend, who is yet to be formally named, claimed the toddler he “slipped” out of his pram.

“So when I left to take him to (my ex-girlfriend’s) place he slipped out of the pram and I picked him up and comforted him,” he told 7 NEWS Adelaide.

The reporter then confronted him about the fact police didn’t believe his claims, to which he responded: “Well, that’s the truth.”

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RELATED: ‘He was perfect in every way’: Ronan Davies’ dad breaks silence

Baby Ronan Davies tragically had his life cut short after sustaining fatal injuries. Picture: Facebook

Police believe toddler died at babysitter’s address

Paramedics rushed Ronan to Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital in an unconscious and critical condition at about 6pm on Wednesday, June 7.

The toddler had suffered critical head injuries and “other serious internal injuries”, according to police.

His injuries were not survivable and Ronan died two days later.

Police now suspect the injuries may have been the result of an assault that occurred sometime on the afternoon of that Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Mark McEachern revealed that Ronan was being babysat by people known to his parents in the days leading up to the suspected assault at an address on Ferguson St in Glenelg North.

Police believe he sustained the injuries at this address.

RELATED: Suspicious death of 17mo Adelaide boy sparks murder investigation

BREAKING: ‘We loved him with every part of us.’ The grieving parents of Ottoway toddler Ronan Davies whose death has been declared a major crime have paid tribute to their son, describing him as ‘playful, happy, cheeky, and perfect in every way.’ https://t.co/FsGPjrKVpy #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/I6iUo1lidX

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 28, 2023

Police “not satisfied” with babysitter’s claim

Ronan was returned to his father at Ottoway on the same day he was admitted to hospital, with the parent calling an ambulance after he was unable to rouse the young boy at about 4pm.

He appeared to be asleep when he was returned home to his parents, but police suspect he was unconscious.

“That’s our suspicion, that Ronan has been returned home, apparently asleep, but we suspect he sustained some injuries prior to that,” Inspector McEachern told reporters on Tuesday.

Inspector McEachern added that police were given an explanation as to how the baby was injured, but that they “were not satisfied as to the truthfulness of that information”.

He declined to provide details about what that explanation was.

RELATED: Little boy killed in car accident days before first birthday identified

His parents are remembering him as a “cheeky boy”. Picture: Facebook

No charges have been laid

Police have launched a major crime investigation into Ronan’s death, but no one has yet been charged. They are now calling on anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers as police try to figure out what happened to the “beautiful little boy”.

Ronan’s parents, Glenn Davies and his fiancee Melanie Nguyen, who police do not consider suspects, said their son was a “cheeky boy” who brought light to their lives.

“He was playful, he was happy, he was perfect in every way,” the father said outside their northwestern suburbs house at Ottoway, The Advertiser reports

“I can’t count the amount of times I go looking for him.”

– With NCA Newswire

Originally published as Babysitter of Adelaide toddler claims he accidentally ‘slipped out of the pram’