Tragic new details emerge about cause of Australian baby’s death in Bali

An Australian couple’s 14-month-old son tragically drowned in a villa swimming pool while the family was on holiday in Bali, Indonesian police have reported. 

Police spokesperson Avitus Panjaitan told Daily Mail Australia that one-year-old Khyden James drowned in the Villa Besar pool in North Kuta, where the family was staying.

He said the family did not report the death to police, and officers only found out details of the death by interviewing resort staff.

A woman alerted employees at Villa Besar in North Kuta and requested an ambulance around 7.15pm on October 19, he said. 

Staff reported that the family had returned to the villa from a water park at 7.15pm shortly before the alarm was raised that a baby was drowning in the pool at 7.20pm.

The baby was pulled form the water and villa staff saw a woman desperately trying to give Khyden CPR.

The hotel initally had trouble reaching an ambulance, but one eventually arrived at 8.30pm. The child’s body was then transported to a hospital mortuary at 9.30pm. 

Police were told Khyden’s body was flown back to Australia three days later on October 22.

The large where villa the family of seven adults and eight children were staying at has a large swimming pool which does not appear to be fenced off. 

Khyden James died in a tragic accident during a family holiday to Bali at a villa’s swimming pool

Dad Brendan Sharp shared the gut wrenching update on Facebook, describing Khyden as a ‘one of a kind’ child who filled every room with laughter and light.

‘Khyden was always happy and cheerful, lighting up the room with whomever was there,’ he said.

‘His cheekiness and affection were like no other, and he was always dancing and having fun with a side of cheeky.’

Brendan and wife Grace took their family of six from Singleton, in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, for a dream getaway to Bali when Khyden died in the pool. 

Brendan added that Khyden was ‘the best baby brother’ his three older siblings ‘could have asked for and the best son we could have ever imagined’.

‘You were so special my boy – keep shining like the star you are and keep an eye on all of us down here,’ he said.

Khyden’s aunt, Bronwyn Cox, started a GoFundMe to assist his parents with funeral costs and other expenses.

She said the little boy ‘brought immense joy and love into all our lives, and his passing has left us all in profound grief’.

‘During this incredibly difficult time, Grace and Brendan face not only emotional pain but also financial strain,’ she said.

Ms Cox started the fundraiser to help with the unexpected costs to bring the baby’s body home, the funeral and the need for time off work. 

‘We are raising funds to help Grace and Brendan with these expenses and to give them the space to grieve without additional stress,’ she wrote.

The aunt thanked those who had already donated and said their ‘generosity will provide much-needed relief and show Grace and Brendan that they are not alone through this difficult journey’.

The campaign has so far raised more than $30,000, almost reaching the overall goal of $35,000.