Toddler drowned in backyard pond on Christmas Day ‘simply minutes’ after household meal
Isobel Abigail Maxwell, two, was celebrating Christmas Day with her extended family at her parents’ house in Doncaster when she slipped into the garden pond – her death has now been ruled accidental at inquest
Isobel with her parents(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)
The “most tragic” death of a two-year-old girl who drowned in her garden pond on Christmas Day after disappearing for “a matter of minutes” has been declared an accident.
Isobel Abigail Maxwell was enjoying the festive day with her extended family at her parents’ home in Doncaster when she managed to get into the garden and fell into the pond.
An inquest held at Doncaster Coroner’s Court revealed that no one saw her venture outside, and it remains unclear which of the three sets of doors Isobel had used to exit the house. Coroner Louise Slater stated that at some point during the day, the family dogs were let out into the garden and “it would appear a door was mistakenly left open”.
The death has been ruled accidental(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)
The inquest learned that Isobel and her parents, Aaron Maxwell and Tamara Wallace, had moved into the property nine months prior, intending it to be their “forever home” as they expanded their family.
Mr Maxwell and Ms Wallace had planned to have the pond filled in over the summer and had erected a temporary fence around it, but this did not encircle the entire pond, the coroner was told.
In a statement read out at the inquest, Ms Wallace described Isobel as a healthy child, affectionately known as “busy Izzie” because she was “always on the move – our little adventurer”.
Christmas Day ended in a horrifying tragedy(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)
She explained that there were 14 guests at the house on Christmas Day and they had finished their meal at around 2.30pm. Isobel was moving from room to room, unwrapping presents and playing games.
Ms Wallace recounted how at one point Isobel accidentally knocked over a wax melt burner in the hallway, and after she had finished cleaning it up, she went to find her “to tell her it was OK and to be careful”.
The inquest heard that when she couldn’t locate her daughter inside the house, she ventured into the garden, with Mr Maxwell following behind.
Isobel was just two years old(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)
She described the horrifying moment they found Isobel: “I heard Aaron scream and saw him holding Isobel in his arms. I dropped to my knees. I’ve no idea which door Isobel managed to get out of. No-one saw Isobel leave. It was a matter of five minutes she was missing.”
The inquest was told that Ms Wallace, who was expecting her second child at the time, began CPR until the ambulance crew arrived and took over just before 5pm.
She continued: “Isobel had never shown any interest in the pond before, whenever we were in the garden someone was with her. I just can’t believe this has happened.”
Mr Maxwell’s statement detailed how he used his phone as a torch because the bottom of the garden was dark. He said he spotted Isobel’s dress and jumped into the pond to rescue her.
Mr Maxwell stated: “I can’t remember if she was facing up or down, everything was a blur. I was in a state of shock.” He described leaving the house to try and find a defibrillator when he saw the paramedics arrive. “I followed the paramedics into the house. I felt so helpless, I didn’t know what to do,” Mr Maxwell said.
Attempts to revive Isobel proved futile and she was pronounced dead at Doncaster Royal Infirmary at 5.55pm.
Detective Constable Danielle Duncan-Blakely, of South Yorkshire Police, revealed that an investigation found no suspicious circumstances, telling the hearing: “It’s sad, they have to carry on their lives knowing they’ve lost their little girl on that day. They’ve had another baby, I just hope they can bring some joy from that.”
Ms Slater mentioned that Isobel’s parents had opted not to attend the inquest “due to the distressing circumstances”. Recording a verdict of accidental death, she expressed: “I would like to wish my most heartfelt condolences for (the family’s) loss, in these most tragic of circumstances.”
You can donate to the family’s fundraiser here.
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