‘Unimaginable loss’: Heartbreaking details emerge after 5yo drowns in popular waterhole

A five-year-old boy who drowned at a popular swimming hole in NSW has been remembered as a “beautiful and blessed” child as heartbreaking details of his drowning emerge.

Warning: This article contains content some may find distressing

A five-year-old who drowned at a popular swimming spot in Sydney’s west has been remembered for being a “beautiful and blessed” boy.

James was with his mother Emily and a group of friends who were camping at the Bents Basin Campground, a nature reserve in Wallacia in Sydney’s west on 1 February when he was found unresponsive in the waterhole.

Friends and family watched as bystanders performed CPR on the boy, followed by paramedics who arrived 30 minutes later.

The five-year-old was rushed to Westmead Hospital, and despite best efforts to resuscitate him, James could not be saved.

James was enjoying a camping trip with his mother and friends when he tragically drowned. Picture: GoFundMe

“This was a group camping trip that we never expected to lose our little friend,” friend Mark Serdina recalled in a recently set up GoFundMe campaign to support single mother, Emily, who has two other children.

Mr Serdina, who was with his girlfriend Paing and helped organise the camping event, was arriving at the campsite when he saw a crowd of people gathered around James, who was lying on the ground.

“When people were helping I stayed next to James, holding his hands begging to come back, but James’ chest did not breathe at all,” he said.

“His face was already a different (colour), his hands were cold.

“People tried to cover his legs as he was cold, while the paramedics continued to help him.”

While the paramedics performed CPR on the five-year-old, his mother Emily was ”crying, screaming (and) jumping” while begging for her son to wake up.

The boy was transported to Westmead Hospital, where further lifesaving treatments were administered, but he could not be revived and died about 7pm.

The boy is remembered as lighting up every room he entered and making people smile. Picture: GoFundMe

In a touching tribute shared on the GoFundMe campaign, mum Emily said her son was a “very positive kid” who would light up every room he entered.

“He was the sunshine of our house,” she said.

“Every time I was stressing out, he will come and hug me tight.

“He is very helpful and kind.

“My James would always come to our door when someone knocks and will show you his biggest, widest, and most precious smile.

“He’s our barrier to negativity. Very beautiful and blessed baby.”

Mr Serdina, who set up the GoFundMe, said losing her son is the “hardest thing” Emily has experienced.

“This is an unimaginable loss for Emily and her family, and any support would mean the world during this difficult time,” Mr Serdina said in the GoFundMe campaign.

“The more we can help her lessen the burden the better she can get back on providing her two kids wellbeing, education and their future.”

Bents Basin recently reopened after storms and flooding caused extensive damage to the swimming hole. Picture: NSW National Parks

The five-year-old’s death comes one month after the Bents Basin waterhole was reopened due to extensive flooding damage.

The nature reserve, which is a popular swimming and camping spot, has been known for its strong and dangerous undercurrents that can pull the swimmer to the middle of the basin and suck them underneath the water, which has a sudden 120m drop.

The water claimed the lives of a 25-year-old man in 2019 and another 25-year-old man in 2016.

The five-year-old’s death has sparked further conversations about permanently shutting the basin due to ongoing safety concerns.

Former Camden councillor Cindy Cagney said online the basin “should never have been reopened”.

“It’s always been dangerous, lord knows … why they let people swim there,” she said.

Several signs have been erected in the area cautioning people to be wary while swimming in the water, though no lifeguards patrol the area.

Originally published as ‘Unimaginable loss’: Heartbreaking details emerge after 5yo drowns in popular waterhole