Toddler found trapped in pool fence at childcare

A heartbreaking case was discussed in a Northern Territory coroner's inquest regarding the death of a 22-month-old girl, Ebony Thompson, at a childcare center in Humpty Doo. The toddler was found unresponsive on August 31, 2023, after likely becoming trapped in a fence while looking for eggs. Ebony was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital but passed away two days later, surrounded by family. Medical experts suggested her death was likely caused by her neck getting stuck in the loops of a pool fence. An earlier autopsy could not determine the exact cause of death, but a review indicated that hanging was a probable explanation. The inquest revealed that childcare workers found Ebony upright against the fence, which created doubts about how she could remain standing if she was unconscious. Staff testified there had been a "blind spot" in the playground where she was found. This area has since been fenced off to prevent such incidents. Witnesses shared concerns about the response time when staff discovered the toddler was unresponsive. Although trained in CPR, they chose to rush her to a nearby clinic instead of performing immediate life-saving measures. This decision raised questions during the inquiry, with medical professionals expressing disbelief about the lack of CPR at the scene. Throughout the inquest, Ebony's family attended, sharing cherished memories of the little girl. Her mother, Jade Thompson, spoke about how Ebony loved collecting eggs from the neighbor's chicken pen, which likely led her to wander near the fence. The coroner, Elisabeth Armitage, will review submissions from the family and childcare center before delivering conclusions and recommendations regarding the tragic incident.