AriannaMaragol died at a Sydney childcare centre - a year later parents still don't have answers

A married couple who were told their 16-month-old baby was 'fine' while sleeping at childcare was dead by the afternoon and - more than 12 months on - they still don't know what happened. 

Arianna Maragol woke on August 24, 2018, with a slight temperature so her mother Anet Eyvazians gave her some Panadol.

By the time father Jozef Maragol went to drive Arianna to a childcare centre in Sydney's north, her temperature had returned to normal. 

'She danced, she clapped in the car. There was nothing unusual. Even when we got to the childcare centre, she was the same baby as every day,' Mr Maragol told 7.30. 

Anet Eyvazians (left) and Jozef Maragol's (right) daughter Arianna (centre) died suddenly on August 24, 2018

The childcare centre has an app which allows parents to track when their children are put down for a sleep. Ms Eyvazians said she saw Arianna was napping at 9.10am. 

Before a meeting at work, Ms Eyvazians decided to phone the childcare centre to check on her 16-month-old daughter at about 10.50am. 

She said the staff advised that Arianna was 'fine' but the mother is unsure how thorough their check was.  

'I don't know if she checked on her or they just told me something over the phone,' Ms Eyvazians said.

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According to the child care centre's policy, children must be checked every ten minutes.

But documents from the childcare centre's lawyer showed there were irregular checks on August 24. This included a 20 and 30 minute gap between observations. 

Speaking of the revelation, Mr Maragol said: 'If they had done the 15 minute check, maybe we would not be sitting today here.' 

Mr Maragol received a call from the childcare centre between 12 and 12.05pm, advising him that Arianna was 'not responding'.

The 16-month-old was rushed to Westmead Children's Hospital but was unable to be saved.

The couple were called by the childcare centre at about 12pm and were advised Arianna was 'not responding'. The 16-month-old was rushed to Westmead Children's Hospital but was unable to be saved. 'We couldn't believe that we're going to see our lifeless child on a bed,' Ms Eyvazians said through tears (pictured)

'We couldn't believe that we were going to see our lifeless child on a bed,' Ms Eyvazians said through tears.

'How could this have happened? I just called not long ago to check on her and they said to me she's fine.' 

The autopsy was 'inconclusive' and the couple are left questioning what happened to their daughter in her final moments. 

They said no one from the childcare centre attended the hospital for Arianna, nor did they receive a phone call.  

'We haven't heard from them ever since,' Mr Maragol said. 

The couple have since welcomed a healthy six-month-old boy named Samuel.

'Arianna was our first child. She was such a beautiful, happy, smart and caring little girl,' Ms Eyvazians said.

The autopsy was 'inconclusive' and the couple are left questioning what happened to their daughter in her final moments. Pictured: Ms Eyvazians and Arianna

The childcare centre declined to answer questions about what happened on August 24 when asked for an interview by 7.30. 

The childcare centre rating had their Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority rating increased from 'meeting' expectations to 'exceeding' expectations on August 12 this year.

But Mr Maragol said parents should always ask questions when choosing a childcare centre.  

'How do you look after my kids? How do you check on the kids? How do you perform your checks?' he said. 

Ms Eyvazians said the couple's lives have been destroyed after Arianna's death and the couple 'wear a mask' every day.

'She's always with us and she never left this house,' Mr Maragol told the ABC. 

'We miss her every moment.'

The couple wear butterfly brooches in memory of Arianna. Mr Maragol said: 'We carry her always with us in our heart.' 

Ms Eyvazians said the couple's lives have been destroyed after Arianna's death and the couple 'wear a mask' every day. 'She's always with us and she never left this house,' Mr Maragol told the ABC

Current recommended evidence-based practices

Safe sleep and rest practices  

Children of all ages 

• Children should sleep and rest with their face uncovered.

• A quiet place should be designated for rest and sleep, away from interactive groups. If designated for rest, the space should allow for a calm play experience.

• Children’s sleep and rest environments should be free from cigarette or tobacco smoke.

• Sleep and rest environments and equipment should be safe and free from hazards.

• Supervision planning and the placement of educators across a service should ensure educators are able to adequately supervise sleeping and resting children.

• Educators should closely monitor sleeping and resting children and the sleep and rest environments. This involves checking/inspecting sleeping children at regular intervals, and ensuring they are always within sight and hearing distance of sleeping and resting children so that they can assess a child’s breathing and the colour of their skin. Service providers should consider the risk for each individual child, and tailor Sleep and Rest Policies and Procedures (including the frequency of checks/inspections of children) to reflect the levels of risk identified for children at the service. Factors to be considered include the age of the child, medical conditions, individual needs and history of health and/or sleep issues. 

SOURCE: Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority

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