Perth dad found at the bottom of pool after 'freak accident' in front of young daughter
A Perth man who tragically died after suffering a broken neck while swimming with his young daughter has been remembered as a “loving and joyful” father.
Jonathan Massandy, 29, died in hospital following an accident in the pool at Leisurepark in Balga on November 3.
According to his former partner Sarah Prijt, lifeguards were only alerted to Mr Massandy’s “freak accident” when their six-year-old daughter Bobbie told another swimmer about her father at the bottom of the pool.
It was only then that lifeguards were alerted, Ms Prijt said.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken for my daughter because she’s the one that actually had to go find help,” she told Stirling Times.
“A six-year-old little girl shouldn’t ever see her dad die. I know he’d be so upset right now his little girl had to go through it all by herself.”
Mr Massandy may have gone undetected on the bottom of the pool for up to eight minutes, Seven News understands.
Ms Prijt, who also has a one-year-old son, says she is devastated by Mr Massandy’s death and that the pair were working on rekindling their relationship.
She has since created a GoFundMe page to help fund Mr Massandy’s funeral.
“We as a family are grieving so hard as he was nothing but a generous giving person and he didn't deserve to go like this,” Ms Prijt wrote.
“He was such an amazing father to his son and daughter, and all he was doing that day was having fun with his little girl.”
Tributes have since flooded in for the father online, with many offering their condolences to his family.
“Oh how we miss you mate,” one friend wrote.
A City of Stirling Council spokesperson declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Mr Massandry’s death when approached by Yahoo News Australia, saying it was inappropriate to do so while a coronial investigation was being carried out.
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