Khyden James: Tragic details emerge after baby boy dies while on family holiday in Bali

Georgina Noack
The Nightly
Khyden James died after drowning in a pool at Villa Besar in Bali while on a family holiday.
Khyden James died after drowning in a pool at Villa Besar in Bali while on a family holiday. Credit: Instagram (villa_vesa) / GoFundM

A NSW family’s “holiday of a lifetime” in Bali has turned to tragedy after their 14-month-old son died in a devastating accident.

Parents Brendan Sharp and his partner Grace Williams were staying with family and friends at a villa in North Kuta when their son Khyden James died on October 19.

Mr Sharp, who hails from Singleton in the NSW Hunter Region, shared the heartbreaking news about his “one of a kind” boy on Facebook.

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“Khyden was always happy and cheerful, lighting up the room with whoever was there,” he wrote.

“His cheekiness and affection were like no other, and he was always dancing and having fun with a side of cheeky.”

Baby Khyden was the beloved youngest brother of siblings Ivie, Savannah, and Huxton; their dad described him as “best baby brother they could have asked for”.

Mr Sharp said he was the “best son we could have ever imagined”.

“You were so special, my boy. Keep shining like the star you are, and keep an eye on all of us down here,” he wrote.

“We love and miss you so much our bambino.”

Khyden James died after drowning in a pool at Villa Besar in Bali while on a family holiday.
Khyden James died in tragic circumstances while on a family holiday. Credit: GoFundMe

Details have since emerged about the circumstances surrounding Khyden’s tragic death.

Indonesian police told The Daily Telegraph they attributed the boy’s death to drowning in the pool of the villa his family was staying at on October 19.

The Singleton family was reportedly staying with a group of seven adults and eight children at Villa Besar in North Kuta when the terrible accident occurred.

Bali Police spokesman Jansen Avitus Panjaitan told The Daily Telegraph police were initially unaware of the baby’s death because the incident was not reported to them.

Mr Panjaitan said police had to piece together what happened by speaking to staff at the resort, who said a woman raised the alarm and asked them to call an ambulance at about 7.15pm on October 19, local time.

Police said staff could not contact an ambulance at first, but one arrived at 8.30pm. Khyden’s body was taken to hospital at 9pm.

Khyden James died after drowning in a pool at Villa Besar in North Kuta on October 19.
Khyden James died after drowning in a pool at Villa Besar on October 19. Credit: Supplied

Hotel staff reportedly told police the family had returned to the villa from a water park a short time before the incident.

Khyden’s body was repatriated to Australia on October 22 after his family worked with our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to bring him home.

A funeral will be held to celebrate Khyden’s “bright and joyful spirit” next week, with local funeral planners urging attendees to wear “colours that reflect the happiness he shared with us all”.

Meanwhile, Khyden’s aunt Bronwyn Cox started a GoFundMe campaign to assist his parents with the “overwhelming” costs and stress in their time of “profound grief”.

“Grace and Brendan face not only emotional pain but also financial strain,” Ms Cox wrote on the fundraiser.

“Khyden brought immense joy and love into all our lives, and his passing has left us all in profound grief.

“Your generosity will provide much-needed relief and show Grace and Brendan that they are not alone through this difficult journey.

The campaign has raised more than $33,000 — dollars away from reaching its $35,000 goal.

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