The owner of a Palmerston North child care centre has responded to widespread media attention after one of its toddlers died of a suspected head injury.
Lorenzo Miranda suffered fatal head injuries in November last year after a brain bleed from a suspected fall.
His parents, Beaudene Wi and Ricardo Miranda, told Maori Television's Native Affairs they had not been told their son Lorenzo had fallen when they picked him up in November from Little Monkeys Preschool in Palmerston North.
They say they were told Lorenzo had a fever, but on the way home they became suspicious after he stopped breathing, Native Affairs reports.
The couple rushed Lorenzo to Palmerston North Hospital, where he underwent surgery to relieve pressure off his brain but later died.
The family say they want answers about what happened to their son.
Little Monkeys owner Jenny Hall says no staff member witnessed any kind of fall that day, but it was possible Lorenzo may have fallen off his chair.
"On his last day at Little Monkey's, his behaviour could best be described as normal. He came in and went straight to a teacher's birthday mat time. At no time during the day did we witness a fall, accident or injury," she said in a statement.
Ms Hall says there was an occasion where Lorenzo was a "little bit upset" but there were staff members "within arms reach of him".
"He was on the ground near a chair. His cry was a normal, frustrated cry, not one of pain, which all parents and carers of children would recognise. He had only just left the small kai table and did not have the physical capability to climb on the chair he was next to by himself."
She says another child was leaning over him but he was checked thoroughly by two teachers for any injuries, including his head.
"There was no visible signs of any injury. He had a short cuddle and then ate his afternoon tea and was running around outside, excitedly visiting the rabbits."
"At no point was there any indication he had suffered a head injury, or, in fact, any injury," Ms Hall says.
She says just before Lorenzo was picked up he fell asleep.
"He felt hot so we took his temperature but it was fine. He woke up briefly when Dad picked him up. When Lorenzo was dropped off, Dad had said he hadn't had a sleep that morning and he often fell asleep in the late afternoon when this was the case."
After Lorenzo's mother contacted the preschool about her sons condition, Ms Hall says she told his mother "there was a possibility he may have fallen off a chair but this was only because during the time he was grizzling, he was near a chair."
"Due to the serious nature of his condition, I wanted to give her any information that may have aided the medical staff caring for him."
She says when staff heard of his death they were "heartbroken".
"It was also difficult to imagine how much pain his family must have been experiencing and we reached out to them to offer our support and love.
"Lorenzo's passing was a tragedy. We understand that people grieve in different ways and we have nothing but love and good thoughts for Beaudene and Ricardo. We are so sorry they had to go through this unimaginable horror but we will carry Lorenzo and his parents in our hearts always."
Police are investigating the cause of the death on behalf of the Coroner. No charges have been laid.
The Education Ministry investigated at the time of the incident and again in March when a complaint was laid by an extended member of Lorenzo's family.
The centre was placed on a provisional licence, but has since returned to normal operations.
Newshub.
