A two-year-old boy suddenly died during his stay at a childcare center, leaving their small community grieving.
Emergency services rushed to the Little Gems Childcare and Early Learning Center in Maryborough, Queensland, on Wednesday after receiving a call that a toddler had suddenly died.
Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia that investigations are still underway but the death is not being treated as suspicious.
Shocked parents were greeted by scenes of despair as they arrived to pick up their children.
One parent whose child attends the center told the Courier Mail that heartbroken staff were “absolutely beside themselves” as they try to come to terms with the incident.
“I can’t help but feel tremendous pain for the parents,” the mother said. “Imagine dropping your child off to daycare and never seeing them again.”
The parent told the publication that her 3-year-old daughter loved going to the daycare center.
She also said that staff would feel like “they have lost a child too” after “really taking care of the kids.”
The daycare center closed following the incident, with the children sent home right away.
Maryborough is located on the Fraser Coast of Queensland, two hours and 20 minutes of Noosa Heads and four hours drive north of Brisbane.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “The department is aware of the tragic death of a child attending the Little Gems Child Care and Early Learning Centre yesterday, and our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time.
“The Queensland Police Service is investigating the incident, and the RA will work closely with QPS to establish the relevant facts over the coming days.
“As the matter is currently under investigation the department is unable to make further comment at this time
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