'Happiest, smiliest' girl, 2, dies in Christmas Day tragedy after falling into garden pond

Isobel’s friends and family have started a fundraiser to help her pregnant mum A young child, dressed in a light-colored garment, holds a stuffed animal and gazes intently at the camera with a curious expression. The background features a simple, white wall. Isobel, from Doncaster, who died after falling into a pond on Christmas Day(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)

A two-year-old girl who “lit up the lives of everyone” died on Christmas Day after she fell into a garden pond. The toddler, Isobel, was found in the water moments after wandering away from celebrations at her family home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Though her relatives immediately started CPR while waiting for the emergency services to arrive, Isobel was sadly pronounced dead shortly after her arrival at hospital, the Mirror reports.

Her aunt, Abigail Maxwell, paid tribute to the youngster on a GoFundMe page, calling her the “happiest, smiliest, most adventurous and curious little girl”, adding: “She lit up the lives of everyone. Our darling angel girl.”

An adult man and woman, both wearing glasses, are posing for a photograph while a child stands behind them, resting on the man's shoulder. The toddler’s family described her as the ‘happiest, smiliest, most adventurous & curious little girl'(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)

The family realised Isobel was missing when she briefly disappeared while playing inside with her toys. A desperate search brought them to the garden where they discovered she had wandered off on her own and fallen into the pond.

The pond had a temporary fence around it, with the family having only recently moved into the property.

Abigail described the heartbreaking incident on the fundraising page, writing: “Our girls, two best friends, were surrounded by everyone playing with their new toys between the living room, kitchen and playroom… we couldn’t find her for a moment and in that moment, she’s gone in the garden and fell in the pond.

“A pond that was not there through choice but due to a house move, their forever home which they were renovating. A pond that had a temporary fence around it, in a garden she would never have accessed by herself.”

Tamara Wallace, Isobel’s mother, posted a heartfelt message on social media, saying her daughter “lived more in her two years than some children did in a lifetime” and thanking the community for their overwhelming support.

An image depicting a family of three, where two adults and a child are posing together in a cheerful manner, likely at a sporting event or a similar venue. The adults are both wearing glasses, and the child is wearing a blue long-sleeved outfit. The background shows a partially blurred view of an audience and a structure. Isobel (centre) with mum Tamara and dad Aaron(Image: GoFundMe/Abigail Maxwell)

The family have launched a fundraising appeal to help with funeral costs and to provide assistance for Tamara, who is currently 25 weeks pregnant.

Abigail explained: “I just really want to do everything I can to take any pressure off for them with regards to funeral costs, counselling, being out of work etc.

“Tamara is 25 weeks pregnant and they need all the emotional and psychological support following this tragedy, not to be on a waitlist, so they have the strength for Isobel’s baby brother.

“They also do not need the financial burden of her having to start work whilst grieving with a newborn baby.”

The family are also planning to create a memorial fairy garden for Isobel, which Abigail described as “a special place where her magical personality can be remembered and her spirit live on”.