Drownings 'quick', 'silent' and 'can happen anywhere', 3yo's inquest hears
The Northern Territory Coroner is examining the drowning death of a three-year-old boy found face down in the family's backyard pool by his father in 2025, putting the territory's pool safety laws under the microscope.
A coronial inquest commenced in Darwin Local Court into the drowning death of three-year-old Dion Robbins in June 2025. The inquest will investigate the circumstances surrounding the boy's death and assess the effectiveness of the Northern Territory's pool safety regulations. The tragic drowning of Dion in his family's backyard pool has reignited discussions about potential changes to the NT's pool fencing laws.
The coroner's inquest will examine the sequence of events leading to Dion's death, with the first witness being Royal Life Saving NT chief executive Floss Roberts. Ms Roberts emphasized that drowning incidents in the NT, while improving, remain a significant concern. She stressed the critical need for comprehensive water safety education for both children and parents, highlighting that drowning is a "quick, silent, and can happen anywhere" tragedy.
Current legislation allows properties larger than 1.8 hectares to operate without pool or spa fencing, a provision that Ms Roberts argued should be abolished. The coroner's inquest will delve into the adequacy of the pool fence and gate configuration when Dion was last seen, as well as broader safety compliance issues within the NT.
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