Update into loss of life of woman, 2 who died after falling into pond on Christmas Day
Two-year-old Isobel Abigail Maxwell died after falling into a pond at her family home in Doncaster on Christmas Day, with her family performing CPR while waiting for emergency services to arrive
Isobel sadly died(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)
The family of a two-year-old girl who tragically died after falling into a pond on Christmas Day desperately tried to save her before paramedics arrived, an inquest heard. Isobel Abigail Maxwell passed away following the incident in the garden of her family home in Doncaster. Today (January 12), an inquest into Isobel’s death was opened and postponed by senior coroner Nicola Mundy at Doncaster Coroner’s Court.
Coroner’s officer Scarlett Harrison informed the brief proceedings that the incident was reported to South Yorkshire Police at approximately 4.45pm on December 25 by the ambulance service.
She stated: “There was information passed to the police to say that Isobel had unfortunately fallen into a pond at the family home.
“The family commenced CPR straight away, called 999, CPR was ongoing for 25 minutes before Isobel was blue-lighted to Doncaster Royal Infirmary.”
The youngster’s death was confirmed at the hospital at roughly 5.55pm that same day, the hearing was informed. The coroner was told that Isobel’s father had verified her identity and the family had selected a funeral director for a planned cremation.
Ms Mundy postponed the case until September 14, when a complete inquest will take place.
After her death, Isobel’s mother Tamara Wallace expressed gratitude to hundreds of people who donated to an online fundraiser to establish a memorial fairy garden.
Ms Wallace posted on Facebook: “Everyone who knows Isobel and us knows how gifted she was, and that she lived more in her two years than some children did in a life time.
“The generosity has been outstanding, we are very much keeping each other close and being suffocated with love, which is absolutely what we need.
“We also want people to remember Isobel for the magic girl she was, and the adventure and fire she had in her soul, and how much light she brought, not for her sad passing.”
A GoFundMe appeal launched by Isobel’s aunt Abigail Maxwell described the “tragic accident” and “living nightmare” that occurred during a family gathering on Christmas Day.
Ms Maxwell detailed how Isobel had been playing with her daughter inside the house and vanished for “a moment”, falling into the pond, which was surrounded by a temporary fence.
She stated: “We couldn’t find her for a moment and, in that moment, she’s gone in the garden and fell in the pond.”
Ms Maxwell explained that the pond “was not there through choice but due to a house move, their forever home which they were renovating”.
She expressed: “As you can imagine, this is the worst possible thing that could ever happen to parents, to lose their baby.
“She was so happy, so loved and they were the best parents who gave her the most wonderful life.”
