A heartbreaking tragedy has rocked the Palmerston community after a three-year-old boy died in a drowning accident over the weekend, just weeks before his fourth birthday.
At around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services were called to a home in Palmerston, a suburb near Darwin, Australia, after a young child was found unresponsive in a backyard pool.
According to the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre, CPR was administered immediately they arrived, and paramedics from St John Ambulance continued efforts to revive him. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene, and the police confirmed the incident was an accidental drowning.
Family members and friends have identified the little boy as Dion. A GoFundMe page titled “In Memory of Beautiful Little Dion” has been created by Sue Longstaff to help cover funeral expenses.
In the fundraiser description, Sue wrote that Dion was a “happy-go-lucky, adventurous little boy” with a big heart and an even bigger smile. She further revealed that Dion was trying to collect some toys from the pool when the tragic incident happened.
Dion’s aunt, Lizzie Robbins, shared an emotional tribute with NT News, remembering her nephew as someone who could light up any room:
“Any room he walked into he made people smile and laugh. He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. They were the two amigos – always getting into mischief together.”
The Northern Territory Police said its Crime Command is leading the investigation, and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Dion’s story is heartbreaking; sadly, it is not the only recent tragedy of its kind.
Dion’s story is heartbreaking, and sadly, not an isolated one. Just a few weeks earlier, across the world in the United States, another family was struck by a similar tragedy. This time, it involved a young boy whose life was shared with millions through his mother’s popular TikTok page.
Weeks after welcoming a new baby into their family, the TikTok influencer and her husband are faced with an unimaginable tragedy.
Their three-year-old boy died following a drowning incident at a Chandler home earlier this year. Authorities identified the child as Trigg, the son of popular TikTok influencer Emilie Kiser.
The incident occurred on the evening of May 12, 2025, when Chandler police responded to a report of a drowning in a swimming pool at a residence near Chandler Heights and Cooper roads. Officers arrived before 7 p.m. and began CPR on the child before paramedics took over.
According to fire officials, Trigg was initially taken to Chandler Regional Hospital in critical condition. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He passed away days later.
Chandler police confirmed the child’s death on Sunday, May 18. Authorities shared condolences with the family and noted that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
However, they stated that no further updates would be provided until the investigation concludes, out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The loss of Dion and Trigg has brought attention to the dangers of accidental drownings and the impact such tragedies have on families and communities.
