Mum 'traumatised' over toddler's sudden death days before second birthday
A single mum awoke on her 30th birthday to discover moments later her young daughter was dead in her cot.
Elle Wilkinson, from Caringbah in Sydney’s south, made the horrific discovery on the early morning of June 17.
Ms Wilkinson’s friend Chloe told Yahoo News Australia the mum of two had been getting ready for the day when she realised Lola, who was just 12 days away from her second birthday, was sleeping later than usual.
She called the toddler’s name several times before noticing Lola was sleeping face down and there was vomit on the bed.
Chloe said the incredibly upset Ms Wilkinson picked her daughter up and saw the colour of her skin was different.
She screamed for her 8-year-old son, Ruben, to call for help before pounding on neighbours’ doors.
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Despite nearby residents performing CPR on Lola, paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
Chloe said Ms Wilkinson and Ruben were distraught over the loss of the little girl.
“Elle isn’t very good, she can’t talk about it. She’s very, very traumatised,” she said.
Ruben is feeling “lost and confused” and is staying with his dad while Ms Wilkinson has booked into a hotel.
The pair do not want to return to the home, and a GoFundMe has been launched to help the family find a new home and get them back on their feet.
It is unknown how Lola died.
A lesion found on her lung has been sent off for testing.
Chloe said herself, Ms Wilkinson, Ruben and Lola had gone to the park the day before the toddler died.
“She was happy and healthy and running around the park,” she said.
Lola didn’t appear unwell or irritable and had eaten all her dinner before her death.
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