What happened to the 8-year-old boy in Kialla?

The 8-year-old boy with special needs wandered off from his family's birthday party and drowned in the pool of a nearby display home in Kialla, Victoria.

Where did the incident take place?

The incident occurred at a G.J. Gardner display home in Kialla, a small town in Victoria, Australia.

How did the community react to the tragic drowning?

The neighbors were shocked and devastated by the incident, with one describing it as "quite devastating" and saying it had "shook us as a community."

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Special Needs Child Drowns in Pool at Brand-New Display Home

Special Needs Child Drowns in Pool at Brand-New Display Home

11 Nov, 2025

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Summary

8-year-old boy with special needs drowned in display home pool
Wandered off from family home 300m away during birthday party
Frantic search efforts by emergency responders were unsuccessful

On Sunday, November 5th, 2025, a devastating incident occurred in the small town of Kialla, Victoria. An 8-year-old boy with special needs wandered off from his family's birthday party and tragically drowned in the pool of a nearby G.J. Gardner display home.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene around 7 pm, but their attempts to revive the boy were unsuccessful. It's understood the child had wandered off from his family's home, located just 300 meters away, and ended up in the backyard pool of the brand-new display home.

Shattered neighbors recalled the frantic search efforts to locate the missing boy, with one stating, "The family was looking around. They've obviously never thought that that's where he would be located. It's quite devastating. It's obviously shook us as a community as well."