Thousands of pounds has been raised to help the family of a 13-month-old baby who died after falling off their boat in Fiji.
Mahini Toki has been tethered to the boat but “worked free and found the water”.
A fellow sailor Grace Palos, who is fundraising for the family, said: “By the time we could find her, it was too late.”
She said: “Mahina was a beautiful, happy, smiling child who loved the water and life on the boat. Her mother, Kiri said she had eyes that looked into your soul from the day she was born.”
More than £10,000 has been raised so far for her parents Mark and Kiri who are “in the process of picking up their lives and traveling back to their home of Great Barrier Island, New Zealand”.
It will help cover their flights home and funeral expenses.
Fijian authorities in Fiji are investigating the incident and a spokesman for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of the tragedy and was providing consular assistance.
The resort manager of Musket Cove, Joe Mar, said locals and fellow cruisers raced to help the family as they found MÄhina’s lifeless body.
An off-duty paramedic, doctor, two nurses and a midwife are reported to have tried to revive the baby girl.
