Twin Loses Fight For Life

Newcastle Herald

Friday November 28, 2008

GR

A TWIN toddler who was left fighting for life after he and his brother were dragged from the family's backyard pool has died, leaving a family to mourn both boys.

Matthew Hill, who had been in a critical condition, died just three days after the incident which killed his twin brother Ethan.

The toddlers, aged 21 months, were playing in their St Huberts Island home on the Central Coast on Monday when they gained entry to the pool area.

It is believed the pool gate was in working order but may have been left propped open with a clothes peg.

The boys were found unconscious in the water about 7.15pm by their grandfather and 16-year-old uncle, who were caring for them at the time, and taken to Gosford Hospital, where Ethan soon died.

Matthew was airlifted to Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital, which confirmed the toddler's death yesterday and said the matter was now before the coroner.

A neighbour, John Smith, told The Herald this week of his heartache after hearing police and ambulance sirens rushing to the quiet cul de sac and watching as ambulance officers tried to resuscitate the toddlers.

"I can't even talk about it much. You could just see them working furiously. You can't comprehend it," he said.

As the boys' family deals with their double loss, they have requested privacy through a statement issued by the Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital yesterday.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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