Ebony Thompson’s family share grief over 22-month-old girl’s unexpected death following Humpty Doo childcare centre incident
A Top End mum and dad who lost their 22-month-old following a fatal incident at a rural childcare centre have shared their heartbreak. ‘We try to hold together and navigate as best we can, but the pain, the tears, the hurt, the Sundays are just so tough without you here.’
Early Education
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Fleeting nose kisses, a chubby cheeky smile and a toddler’s giggle are the moments a grieving family hold on to as they wait for the findings of a coronial inquest into a childcare centre death.
Jade and Floyd Thompson only had 22 months to cherish, love and dote on their little girl Ebony before she was tragically and unexpectedly taken away from them after an incident at the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre on August 31, 2023.
Dressed in her favourite colour, Ebony’s many loved ones listened through tears as a five-day coronial inquest explored how she was discovered unconscious, unresponsive and turning blue in a suspected accidental hanging at the rural centre.
But between the legalese, policies and regulations of the inquest, Jade and Floyd were able to share with coroner Elisabeth Armitage the precious memories of their baby girl and how “she truly made all our lives complete”.
Ms Armitage heard how every morning, without fail, Ebony would pick through her fruit loops searching for her favourite colours, before triumphantly holding up the pieces shouting “purple!”.
Jade told the inquest about Ebony’s slightly unsuccessful attempts to collect eggs from their neighbour’s chicken coop, saying with a laugh: “Every day would smack them together and go ‘Uh-oh’”.
It was her daughter’s curiosity and love of animals that Jade suspects led the youngster into the high risk, blind spot where she likely accidentally hanged herself while trying to peek into the chicken coop.
Jade and Floyd told Ms Armitage for the past 18 months, not a single day had gone by without thinking about their baby girl and “feeling the weight of your absence”.
“Puddy was always so full of life and walked this earth with such ease and care,” they said.
“Nothing ever worried her, she always held her head high full of confidence and beauty.
“We hold tight to the love, the memories, the adventures, the buggy rides, the hugs, the nose kisses, the laughter and all the special moments we shared.
“We try to hold together and navigate as best we can, but the pain, the tears, the hurt, the Sundays are just so tough without you here.
“You were the glue that made everything so right.”
After a heartbreaking inquest, the Thompsons said the process had “brought us one step closer to understanding the tragic event that has changed our lives forever”.
On the final day of the inquest, Ms Armitage thanked Ebony’s family and loved ones for their help, passion, insights and dedication to the process.
“She was a cheeky, delightful, curious and spirited toddler. She should have grown up to be a delightful, curious and resourceful woman,” Ms Armitage said.
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