A magpie is the cause of a tragic accident after a mum accidentally fell holding her baby girl while attempting to avoid a swooping magpie.
Mum, Simone fell while she was walking with her daughter, five-month-old Mia in her arms in Brisbane South’s Glindemann Park.
The accident occurred just after midday on Sunday and, tragically, has left a couple without their daughter.
Swooping magpie to blame for infant death
According to reports, Simone and her husband Jacob acted quickly to call emergency services after their baby had fallen. Mia was transported to Queensland Children’s Hospital in critical condition but died from her injuries later that day.
As expected, her parents are absolutely distraught. Onlookers who heard the mother scream said they had never seen parents in such an extreme state of shock before.
“I’ve seen shock before but this was beyond anything I’d ever seen,” the onlooker told the Courier Mail.
‘Attack you like a tornado’
According to reports, residents have complained about the magpie in the past. Several residents commented that they have also been attacked by a magpie in the same spot.
They just come from nowhere and attack you like a tornado,” one resident, who didn’t want to be named, said.
There is a sign in place to warn walkers of the magpie and resident. Barry Stewart said he had reported magpie swooping to Brisbane City Council weeks ago.
Magpie captured after infant death
Since the accident, the magpie has been removed by two council workers. However, before the capture, the Courier Mail reports witnessing seeing at least five others attacked by a swooping magpie, some of which were left with bleeding from their ears afterwards.
There are also images of a magpie swooping at a council worker just one day after the tragic accident.
Brisbane City Standards Chair Kim Marx said an investigation was underway into the incident.
This is an extremely tragic accident and our hearts go out to the family involved,” Cr Marx said.
The council have yet to respond about how many complaints had been made about the magpie in the past.
‘Forever will be the light’
Little Mia was obviously very much loved and this horrible accident has left a massive hole in the family’s hearts. Family members have set up a Go Fund Me account to help the grieving family and shared this message,
On 8 August 2021 this horrible world dealt a blow no one could ever imagine. On this day, in Glendemann Park, Holland Park West an absolute tragic and sudden accident occurred, where beautiful Mia, at only five young months of age, grew her little angel wings and left this world for the final time. 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.
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.”
The funds raised for Mia will go to help her mum and dad pay for the funeral costs and take the time they need to grieve this tragic accident. So far they have raised $65,000.
From the bottom of our hearts, we ask you to donate whether it be big or small. For those that cannot afford to donate, sharing this to spread the word and the love would mean everything. We can guarantee Jacob and Simone will be forever grateful to you all.
We love you both Jacob and Simone, and will forever love you Mia….Fly high baby girl…
Our hearts go out to Mia’s entire family.
Staying safe from swooping magpies
This type of accident is absolutely heartbreaking. While magpie-related deaths are not common, it is important to be aware that these birds are quite aggressive and dangerous especially when protecting their nest.
According to the QLD Department of Environment and Science,
A magpie will only defend its nest within a ‘defence zone’. For pedestrians, this is usually an area within 110m and for cyclists it is 150m.
Almost all swoops on people are carried out by male magpies defending their eggs and chicks, which are in the nest for about six to eight weeks between July and November.”
QLD Department of Environment and Science suggests these safety tips to avoid magpie swooping:
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses or shelter under an umbrella to protect your face from swooping magpies (painting or sticking large ‘eyes’ on the back of your hat can also deter magpies—but this won’t work for cyclists).
- If a magpie swoops while you are cycling, it will probably stop swooping if you get off your bike and walk.
- Avoid ‘defence zones’ by taking alternative routes during the breeding season.
- If you must enter a ‘defence zone’, magpies will be less likely to swoop if they are watched constantly, or if people walk in a close group.
- Use signs to warn others of the location of nests and defence zones, particularly in areas used by children and the elderly.
- Waving sticks or umbrellas in the air or attaching a brightly coloured flag on a long pole to your bicycle can stop magpies from swooping
