Distraught mum of Cooper Onyett pleas for answers over tragic drowning

A distraught mum has paid an emotional tribute to her “beautiful little boy” as she pleas for ­answers on how he drowned at a school camp in Port Fairy.

Port Fairy drown victim Cooper Onyett, 8, from Warrnambool.

A distraught mother is desperately waiting for ­answers about how her “beautiful little boy” drowned at a school camp on Friday.

Cooper Onyett, 8, drowned in a pool at Belfast Aquatics in Port Fairy just before 11am, while on his first overnight camp with Merrivale Primary School’s grade 2 class.

His mother Skye Meinen told the Herald Sun she spent the weekend by the phone, waiting for details about her son’s tragic death.

“I’ve got no answers,” Ms Meinen said.

“I don’t know what happened. I don’t have any information about the accident from the school. Nobody has actually told me what happened.

“All I know is that I had an excited little boy going on his first ever sleepover school camp.

“I dropped him off on Thursday and gave him a great big hug goodbye and said, ‘I’ll see you on Friday’.”

Ms Meinen said Cooper was “the life of the party” who loved being with his friends and family.

Eight-year-old Cooper (right), picture with his mum Skye and brother Jett(left), drowned at Belfast Aquatics in Port Fairy.

“He lived every single day of his life with a smile and tried to make everyone around him happy and tried to get them to appreciate everything around them,” Ms Meinen said.

“He brightened up everything.

“Cooper loved anything that involved lots of people.”

The “beautiful and social” boy had just celebrated his eighth birthday on May 9.

Cooper’s death is not the first tragedy to rock the young family.

Ms Meinen said the death of her boy came after losing Cooper’s twin, Ethan, before the pair were born.

“I’m distraught. This is like Groundhog Day after losing Ethan,” Ms Meinen, of Dennington, said.

“I’ve been here before, sadly. I don’t think a parent should have to go through this once, let alone twice.

“I am really vacant.”

Cooper’s older brother, Jett, has been shattered by the death of his “best mate”.

“When we first arrived at the hospital, the first thing Jett screamed was, ‘He’s my only friend!’” Ms Meinen said.

“It was just really terrible.”

Cooper on his first day of Grade 2.

Cooper’s brother Jett has been devastated by the death.

Ms Meinen said Cooper most loved going to school.

“Having a day off school was like torture. He needed his friends,” she said.

“He always got in trouble at school because he’s just like me, a little socialite.”

Cooper’s aunt Tara Meinen told the Herald Sun her family had been “absolutely shattered” by the death of her “adventurous and cheeky” nephew.

“Cooper was a gorgeous boy that will be missed by so many,” Tara said.

“He was cheeky, fun and had the kindest heart which will be so sadly missed.

“Our hearts are just absolutely shattered. You will forever be loved and missed more than words can say Cooper”

Ms Meinen said Cooper loved being with his friends and family.

Cooper drowned in a pool at Belfast Aquatics in Port Fairy.

A GoFundMe page set up for Cooper’s family had amassed more than $80,000 in donations as of Sunday night.

Ms Meinen said she was ­expecting the coroner to contact her with more details about how Cooper drowned on ­Monday.

Belfast Aquatics remained closed over the weekend.