Single mother’s heartache as her only son, one, drowns in a garden pond on Christmas Eve – devastating the ‘treasured’ toddler’s four older sisters
- A one-year-old was discovered unconscious in the backyard of his family home
- He was rushed to Christchurch hospital in a critical condition on Sunday
- Te Ariki Lee was found brain dead and taken off life support on Christmas Eve
A single mother has been left heartbroken after her only son, one, drowned in a garden pond on Christmas Eve.
Te Ariki William Robin Tawha Lee died in hospital on Tuesday after he was found unconscious outside his family home in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Sunday.
He was discovered by his mother Lee Monk and rushed to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition.
One-year-old Te Ariki Lee was taken off life support on Christmas Eve after his mother found him unconscious in their Christchurch backyard on Sunday
Te Ariki was placed on life support but MRI scans showed the toddler was already brain dead.
A Givealittle page said that Te Ariki was removed from life support on Christmas Eve as ‘he was unable to survive the unrecoverable situation.’
The page also told of the ‘tragic loss for the family’ as Te Ariki was mourned by his single mother and four older sisters.
By Saturday morning almost $7,000 had been donated to help cover the cost of his funeral.
A death notice described the one-year-old as a ‘loved and treasured only son’ who was ‘loved by all of his extended whanau and community.’
The street in Christchurch where Te Ariki drowned at his family home
Te Ariki’s death was not considered suspicious and had been referred to the coroner, a spokesperson from New Zealand Police said.
Preventable drowning deaths occurred nine more times this year compared to 2018, according to a report from Water Safety New Zealand.
Parents are urged to supervise their children at all times and identify water risks around the home.