Toddler in stable condition after being found in Bendigo lake
More than $5600 has been raised to help a family whose toddler remains in hospital after he was found unresponsive in a lake.
Leader
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A toddler is continuing to fight for life after escaping an enclosed play space and venturing into an unfenced lake.
Jackson was found unresponsive in Eaglehawk’s Lake Neanger just before midday on Sunday August 7.
More than a week later, he remains in the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical but stable condition.
According to a friend of the family, Rhiannon Britton, Jackson’s dad had taken the three-year-old and his older brother to the Eaglehawk Playspace while his mum rested at home with their newborn sister.
Jackson’s dad had been putting his brother’s shoes on when he noticed the toddler was missing.
He searched the enclosed playspace and then, in a panic, called for help to search the wider area.
It was then that Jackson was found unresponsive in the water, just metres from the playground.
A witness performed CPR until paramedics arrived and he was later flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
The hospital confirmed the toddler remained in a critical but stable condition on Wednesday August 17.
Ms Britton said it was believed the latch on the playground gate had not latched shut correctly, enabling Jackson to get out.
One community member told Leader the issue of the lake not being fenced had been raised with the council on numerous occasions, including as recently as last week.
In a statement, a City of Greater Bendigo spokesperson said staff had not received a briefing regarding the circumstances leading to the incident.
“The childproof locks on the gates leading into the toddlers play area have been inspected and are in working order,” they said.
They added there were currently “no requirements, regulatory, Australian Standard or other, to put fences or child-proof gates around playspaces in Victoria”.
Ms Britton said Jackson was “fighting with all he’s got” but that it would be a “massively long road ahead for him and his family”.
She said she set up the fundraiser to help ease the financial burden of not working so they could be with their boy “every step of the way”.
The fundraiser has now exceeded $5600.
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