Family pay tribute to girl, 2, who died in tragic Christmas Day pond accident

A two-year-old girl who died after accidentally falling into a garden pond on Christmas Day has been remembered by her family as a joyful, smiling and fearless child.

Isobel Wallace was found during Christmas celebrations at her parents’ recently purchased home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. According to her family, she had been happily playing with her toys before briefly going out of sight.

Despite a temporary safety fence around the pond, Isobel was able to access the garden in what her relatives described as a devastating accident. The family said they are “absolutely heartbroken” by the tragedy.

In a social media tribute, Isobel’s mother, Tamara Wallace, said her daughter was full of energy and curiosity, describing her as a child with “adventure and fire” who experienced more joy in her short life than many do in far longer ones.

A fundraising campaign launched by Isobel’s aunt, Abigail Maxwell, has raised over £19,000 to help cover funeral expenses, counselling for the parents and the creation of a memorial garden.

Maxwell described her niece as a bright, inquisitive toddler whose happiness touched everyone around her. She said the loss has devastated the entire family, adding that Isobel was deeply loved and raised by devoted parents who gave her a wonderful life.

She explained that on Christmas Day, Isobel had been playing indoors with her cousin and their new toys when she suddenly went missing for a brief moment. During that time, she managed to get into the garden and fell into the pond.

Maxwell stressed that the pond was not a deliberate feature of the property but was present due to the family’s recent move to what they hoped would be their forever home, which was still undergoing renovation. She added that the area had been temporarily fenced and was not somewhere Isobel would normally have been able to reach on her own, calling the incident a tragic accident.