Nihal's legacy program
Raising awareness and advocating for
septic pit safety
In March 2023, Amanpreet’s world was turned upside down when her 3-year old son, Nihal, tragically drowned after stepping onto an unsecured septic pit and falling in.
Amanpreet and her family were attending a housewarming when Nihal, who was playing outside, couldn’t be seen. Unable to locate him, a desperate search began among the 150 guests on the property. Only when they witnessed another child’s foot getting caught in the cover of the septic pit, did someone open the lid. Devastatingly, they spotted Nihal’s jumper in the water. Despite desperate attempts to revive him, Nihal could not be saved.
To honour her son and help prevent future tragedies, Amanpreet has bravely shared her story. You can watch this below – please be warned that it does talk about child death and can be triggering for some.
Nihal’s death was completely preventable – and is not an isolated incident. There have been two additional toddler deaths in sptic pits in Australia over the past 18 months and countless more tragedies that have taken place internationally.
Together with Nihal’s family, Kidsafe Victoria are encouraging all homeowners with septic systems to check the safety of their systems – including making sure that the lid is secure – to help prevent similar incidents.
In addition to this, Kidsafe Victoria have identified 2 key priorities that will help save future lives:
- * The installation of a child resistant screen under the lid as a secondary backup option if the lid fails – these are not currently available in Australia but we are looking into options
- * A Certificate of Compliance for septic systems when a property is sold or rented – similar to what is required for swimming pools and spas – to help make sure they are in proper working order
How you can support the campaign
- * Donate to support Nihal’s legacy
- * Share Amanpreet’s video with family and friends to help raise awareness about the dangers of septic systems
- * Share Kidsafe Victoria’s posts and resources
If you own a septic pit or are a company that services these, we are currently exploring child safety screen options. If you are interested in receiving updates on the progress and availability of these, please fill out the form in the link below.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
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