A 5-year-old baby has tragically died after her mother tried to protect her from a swooping magpie.
The territorial bird reportedly attacked the mother who tried to run away from Glindemman Park in Brisbane.
But during their escape, the mom tripped and fell, causing baby Mia to sustain severe injuries.
Little Mia was rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital where she later passed away.
Parents Simone and Jacob were left devastated and inconsolable after the heartbreaking incident.
Speaking with news.com-au, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “That was following reports that a woman had tripped while holding a baby after reportedly attempting to duck and avoid a magpie.
“The QAS medical director and critical care paramedics responded and transported the infant to Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.”
Relatives Sophie and Katie have set up a GoFundMe page for the heartbroken family, writing: “Everything about Mia was perfect from her head full of hair, to her tiny little nose and her little long toes.
“Mia’s arrival made Jacob and Simone’s lives complete, they constantly doted over her, showered her with love, and shared her for all their loved ones to adore.
“Beautiful she was, and loved by all who got to meet her. The joy Mia brought to all of our lives cannot be described in words, but is certainly felt in all of our hearts.”
Sophie and Katie shared how devastated the entire family is.
“Mia, at only five young months of age, grew her little angel wings and left this world for the final time,” they wrote. “Shattering everyone’s hearts, and crushing Jacob and Simone’s world in the blink of an eye where no day would ever be the same,” they said.
“No words can begin to describe the torture Jacob and Simone are going through. A life cut so short, much sooner than any one of us expected. Mia was and forever will be the light of Jacob and Simone’s lives.”
Sean Dooley of BirdLife Australia told the ABC the tragic incident is a heartbreaking reminder of how dangerous magpie swooping can be.
“While it’s only the male magpies that swoop and only 10 per cent of males do swoop…the consequences, especially when people are caught unaware, can be truly terrifying and devastating,” he said.
“Swooping season only occurs when the male magpies are defending the chicks in the nest – so for that brief period where the chicks are really vulnerable.”
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