Family mourns toddler after Portarlington drowning tragedy
Geelong councillor and Portarlington resident Trent Sullivan has spoken of the “extraordinarily sombre” mood in the town since a toddler drowned in waters off the pier on Thursday. It comes as the community has helped raise more than $29,000 for the child’s family.
Geelong
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THE shattered family of local toddler Anna Greaney, who drowned at Portarlington on Thursday, has spoken of how they wished they could “turn back time”.
Tributes have flown for the 2-year-old girl, who drowned after falling into the sea from the Portarlington pier.
Mum Billee Greaney, told the Geelong Advertiser Anna had gone down to the pier area with her dad, Patrick, and two of her siblings.
“We often go down to the beach and the pier, at least a few times a week,” Mrs Greaney said.
“Yesterday was just another one of those days until it wasn’t.”
The Portarlington family’s lives changed forever in an instant when their beloved Anna fell from the pier.
“Patrick rang me and said ‘Anna’s gone, I can’t find her’,” Mrs Greaney said.
“It was just the most windy and choppy day.”
Mrs Greaney said Anna was “the happiest little girl.”
“She was really everything to us,” she said.
“I get comfort knowing she knew nothing but love.”
Mrs Greaney thanked the community for their support.
“To the fishermen who frantically helped us search and the lady who looked after our other children at the beach, thank you,” Mrs Greaney wrote on Facebook.
“You will never truly know the impact you have made in our lives.
“We are shattered, we don’t understand and above all we wish we could turn back time and not go down to our beloved pier yesterday.
“Our arms will forever ache to hold her again.”
Residents laid bouquets of flowers at the pier in memory of the little girl.
“To the Portarlington community. I just want to say thank you,” Mrs Greaney wrote.
“My husband and I have just been down to the pier and looked at your flowers and cards.
Mrs Greaney said the family planned to lay toys left at the site with their “little Anna”.
A card from local fishermen laid at the scene read “our thoughts are with you during this sad time”.
Anna’s aunt has arranged a GoFundMe page to support the family, and help with funeral and memorial expenses, after the tragedy.
“Anna passed away after a tragedy on Thursday and has now gone home to be with God,” the page said.
It had raised more than $29,000 by Sunday morning.
Anna was the youngest of four children.
Emergency services were called to a pier off The Esplanade, Portarlington about 1pm on Thursday afternoon after receiving reports that a 2-year-old girl was missing.
A search commenced and the child was found in the water.
Police commenced CPR on the child until ambulance crews arrived but Anna died at the scene.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
A Parks Victoria spokesman said the organisation, which manages the pier, would assist the investigation in any way possible.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young girl who died,” the spokesman said.
Life Saving Victoria’s Principal Research Associate Dr Bernadette Matthews said the incident was a sad reminder to us all that it can take as little as 20 seconds for a toddler to drown and of the need to be within arm’s reach of young children at all times around water.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends after the tragic incident at Portarlington,” she said.
City of Greater Geelong councillor Trent Sullivan, who is a resident of Portarlington, said the mood in the town was “extraordinarily sombre”.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone who hasn’t been shaken to the core deeply,” Cr Sullivan said.
“Small towns do have big hearts.
“Our heart well and truly goes out to the little girl and her family.”
Donations can be made to the family via the GoFundMe page called “Beautiful Anna has gone home to Jesus”.
Originally published as Family mourns toddler after Portarlington drowning tragedy