Just 20 seconds: Toddler death on Hamilton property prompts safety warning

Life Saving Victoria has warned of how quickly children can drown following the death of a child in a dam in Victoria’s west.

The death of a toddler who was found unresponsive in a dam on a large rural property in the state’s west has prompted a water safety message from Life Saving Victoria.

Victoria Police and the State Emergency Service spent Monday morning looking for what is believed to be a one-and-a-half year old on a private property in Hamilton.

It was reported the child wandered from home about 10.15am.

The toddler was found in the afternoon and was taken to Hamilton Base Public Hospital in a critical condition before dying.

Life Saving Victoria health promotion general manager Dr Bernadette Matthews said the death was an “incredibly sad reminder of hidden dangers for children on private properties”.

“Active supervision is key, which means always keeping kids under five in arm’s reach and under 10s in eyesight around water,” she said.

“If they do get away from you, having children dressed in brightly coloured clothing can make them easier to spot before they slip away, or faster to find in nature.

“Many people are surprised to learn that children can drown in just 20 seconds and in as little as a few centimetres of water, which means they can get themselves into trouble before people even realise they’re missing.”

Dr Matthews recommended having a fenced area for children to play on private properties where fencing ponds or dams was impractical.

The death of the Hamilton toddler is not being treated as suspicious.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.