Desperate act to save toddler who drowned after falling off boat in Fiji
Māhina Toki broke free from her harness and was later found floating in the water by her parents.
The parents of a toddler who drowned after falling off a boat in Fiji desperately tried to save their child's life by rushing her to shore where locals attempted to revive her — but it was too late.
Thirteen-month-old Māhina Toki was strapped into a harness on a boat that was reportedly docked in Musket Cove in western Fiji, but she somehow escaped and was found floating in the water shortly after.
Her parents, Mark and Kiri, who were preparing to return home to Great Barrier Island in New Zealand, were cooking dinner in the galley on the catamaran at around 5pm on Friday local time, a Fiji Police spokeswoman said, according to New Zealand Herald. When they returned to check on her, they noticed she was missing and began frantically searching.
"By the time we could find her, it was too late,” a friend of the grieving family wrote on a Givealittle page set up to cover the cost of flights back home and funeral expenses. Attempts to revive the toddler were unsuccessful.
Locals attempt to save toddler
Musket Cove Resort manager Joe Mar told the Herald there is a huge sense of shock across the island, located about 17 kilometres from Nadi airport. "The family rushed into shore to seek help and a lot of people rushed to their aid, but unfortunately couldn't revive her," he said.
According to the Island Cruising New Zealand Facebook group, the parents brought her to the dock in Musket Cove where "the most incredible team of medical professionals" tried to save her.
"A paramedic, doctor, two nurses and a midwife as well as all the equipment, medication and oxygen that you would have in hospital," the post read. "Some of the rally participants who were in the area stepped up to help too.
"Sadly despite all of their best efforts, she did not make it."
Parents return to New Zealand without their daughter
According to the fundraiser page, the toddler was tethered to the boat, but somehow "worked free". Her parents are now in the process of "picking up their lives" and heading back to New Zealand.
Mahina has been described as a "beautiful, happy, smiling child who loved the water and life on the boat".
"Her mother, Kiri said she had eyes that looked into your soul from the day she was born," the fundraising page states. " To the beloved Mahina, may you forever live in peace, splashing with joy somewhere in the sea."
On Monday, almost $27,000 had been raised for the family. Fijian Police are still investigating the incident, according to reports.
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