A devastated family lost their “beautiful blue-eyed boy” after he tragically fell into the family’s backyard pool in Hervey Bay, Queensland.
18-month-old Phoenix Rodgers was pulled from the pool and treated by paramedics at the scene before being transported to Hervey Bay Hospital before losing his fight.
His grieving family are struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Phoenix’s dad Blair Rodgers, told the Sunshine Coast Daily everything is quiet without him: “He was full of energy from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to sleep.”
He also described his as a doting big brother who always wanted to kiss his 6-month-old sister Ariella.
Mr Rodgers and partner Stacy Sharrad had only just moved to the house where the tragedy occurred and the Sunshine Coast Daily reports they don’t know if they’ll ever return.
The couple are currently staying with Mr Rodgers’ parents while they decide what they want to do but Stacy reportedly collapsed when they went to collect clothes from the house and she saw some of Phoenix’s belongings.
Mr Rodgers also revealed “He [Phoenix] never went near the pool,” and estimated the little boy was out of sight for no more than two minutes when the tragedy occurred.
The Ramada complex where the family used to live has created a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the his funeral.
They describe him as “a beautiful blue eyed, blonde haired, cheeky and mischevious 18 month old little boy who resided in our apartment complex with his mother and three siblings. After a recent move to start a new life with both of his parents, Phoenix sadly passed on the 6th October 2017 after a backyard pool accident.”
Our deepest condolences to Phoenix’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.
