On May 4, 2025, during our daughter’s third birthday party, our worst nightmare came true.

Our 1-year-old son, Mason, was there one moment and gone the next. We found him in the pool at the bottom of an inflatable water slide—lifeless, not breathing, silent. It happened fast, without a sound. No cries. No splashes. Nothing to warn us.

Thanks to the bravery of Mason’s Dad, Jesse and Mason’s Uncle Baden, who performed CPR, and urgent medical intervention, Mason survived. But the truth is, we came heartbreakingly close to losing him.

Doctors told us that if we had found him even moments later, the outcome could have been very different.

We want to be absolutely clear: we do not directly blame the hire company involved. We understand that accidents can happen and that supervision is key. But what’s clear now is that this tragedy was preventable.

There were no nets, no barriers, no warnings, and no instructions. We were never made to sign a waiver, never shown a safety guide, and no one walked us through risks or responsibilities.

This isn’t about blame. This is about change.

Mason’s Rule proposes:

Mandatory netting or protective barriers around the pool ends of all inflatable water slides and jumping castles;
Compulsory written and verbal safety instructions for every hirer at the time of set-up;
Review and enforcement of current inflatable safety standards (such as AS 3533.4.1).

Our son is alive, and for that we are eternally grateful. But we carry trauma, and we know other families may not be as lucky.

This law is for Mason, and for every child whose laughter should never turn to silence.

Please sign and share this petition. Help us make Mason’s Rule a national standard, so that no parent has to live this story again.

With love and hope,

Olivia and Jesse Whittard

Darwin, NT