Bohemian
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'What happened to my baby?' Parents of tragic Darcy Atkinson who died from 'swallowing too much water' say the man looking after him that day has 'more of a story to tell'
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After a coroner found New South Wales Central Coast boy Darcy, two, died in 2012 of a brain injury caused by swallowing too much water, it is possible his devastated parents may never what happened leading up to his death - or how he sustained other injuries that marked his body.
They spoke to 60 Minutes in the hope that it would aid their continuing fight to reveal the truth about what happened to their son.
At the time of Darcy's death his parents, Peter Atkinson and Tara Maxwell, had split up and were living apart.
Mr Atkinson had moved back to Victoria to be close to his family while Ms Maxwell, Darcy and Ms Maxwell's older son, Gracen, stayed in the central coast of NSW.
Ms Maxwell was balancing being a single parent and holding down full-time work.
The day Darcy was admitted to Sydney's Westmead Hospital he was in the care of her partner at the time, Adam Taylor.
They'd been paddle boarding and swimming. At some point Darcy hit his head and was also submerged for at least one second.
Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon later found that Darcy had died from a brain injury after ingesting water while in the care of Mr Taylor.
'Adam Taylor has more of a story to tell about that,' Mr Dillon said, '(This) troubling and suspicious set of *circumstances remains *unresolved.'
Despite that, there was no evidence to suggest Mr Taylor had caused Darcy any harm.
Dr Barry Wilkins was one of the treating doctors at the hospital, he told the inquest Darcy had been thrashed, and received a blow to the back of the head.'
''And even more importantly and relevant ... I know that he was boxed on the ears probably that day ... he died consequently,' Dr Wilkins told the inquest.
The confusion surrounding the case, and the strong evidence of abuse had Mr Atkinson constantly searching for answers.
'It is hard to point fingers when you don't know who to blame,' he told Daily Mail Australia in March 2016.
'I just want anyone with more information to come forward.
'They've ripped my whole life apart and given me this bag of sand and told me to bury it', he told 60 Minutes through tears.
Ms Maxwell - who moved to Darwin for a fresh start - said she wouldn't stop until she knew the truth.
'I won't stop until we find out what we need to find out.'
Mr Taylor declined to speak to 60 Minutes.'
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- [Darcy Atkinson, aged two, died of brain injuries in December 2012
[*]Parents are still trying to find out what happened leading up to his death
[*]Peter Atkinson and Tara Maxwell had split up when the young boy died
[*]He was being cared for by her partner the day he was admitted to hospital
[*]The New South Wales Central Coast boy's parents still want answers
After a coroner found New South Wales Central Coast boy Darcy, two, died in 2012 of a brain injury caused by swallowing too much water, it is possible his devastated parents may never what happened leading up to his death - or how he sustained other injuries that marked his body.
They spoke to 60 Minutes in the hope that it would aid their continuing fight to reveal the truth about what happened to their son.
At the time of Darcy's death his parents, Peter Atkinson and Tara Maxwell, had split up and were living apart.
Mr Atkinson had moved back to Victoria to be close to his family while Ms Maxwell, Darcy and Ms Maxwell's older son, Gracen, stayed in the central coast of NSW.
Ms Maxwell was balancing being a single parent and holding down full-time work.
The day Darcy was admitted to Sydney's Westmead Hospital he was in the care of her partner at the time, Adam Taylor.
They'd been paddle boarding and swimming. At some point Darcy hit his head and was also submerged for at least one second.
Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon later found that Darcy had died from a brain injury after ingesting water while in the care of Mr Taylor.
'Adam Taylor has more of a story to tell about that,' Mr Dillon said, '(This) troubling and suspicious set of *circumstances remains *unresolved.'
Despite that, there was no evidence to suggest Mr Taylor had caused Darcy any harm.
Dr Barry Wilkins was one of the treating doctors at the hospital, he told the inquest Darcy had been thrashed, and received a blow to the back of the head.'
''And even more importantly and relevant ... I know that he was boxed on the ears probably that day ... he died consequently,' Dr Wilkins told the inquest.
The confusion surrounding the case, and the strong evidence of abuse had Mr Atkinson constantly searching for answers.
'It is hard to point fingers when you don't know who to blame,' he told Daily Mail Australia in March 2016.
'I just want anyone with more information to come forward.
'They've ripped my whole life apart and given me this bag of sand and told me to bury it', he told 60 Minutes through tears.
Ms Maxwell - who moved to Darwin for a fresh start - said she wouldn't stop until she knew the truth.
'I won't stop until we find out what we need to find out.'
Mr Taylor declined to speak to 60 Minutes.'