‘It broke me’: Heartbroken mum watches CCTV of her toddler left unresponsive at daycare

A Queensland childcare centre is under investigation after security cameras captured a three-year-old boy lying unresponsive in a playground.

For Nikoah's mother, Rachael, watching the footage from Little Creek Early Learning in Loganlea was devastating.

“Just seeing him there, lifeless, it broke me,” she told A Current Affair.

The incident unfolded when Nikoah was playing on the ground with a friend. One second before 4.16pm, he rolled onto his back and stopped moving.

His playmate quickly realised something was wrong, waved towards someone off-camera, and tried to pull Nikoah up before running off, leaving him lying alone.

A staff member entered the frame shortly after, watching as other children gathered around and lifted Nikoah’s limp arms and legs. She walked over about 30 seconds later, joined the group, and eventually leaned down to check on the toddler.

She then placed him into the recovery position before lifting him into her arms.

More workers rushed over to clear nearby children, and at 4.19pm, more than three minutes after he first became unresponsive, Nikoah was carried from the playground.

The Department of Education has confirmed to A Current Affair that the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority had launched an investigation.

Rachael said while the centre rang her, she was shocked it did not call an ambulance.

“She said to me that there was something going on with Nikoah. He’s not being himself. They think that he’s had a seizure and he’s unconscious, and I just jumped in the car and went straight there,” Rachael said.

She said Nikoah appeared pale and flat when she arrived and wasn't acting like his usual self.

The family took him directly to hospital, where he stayed for 24 hours for observation. Rachael is still waiting for a medical diagnosis.

Asked what she believed staff should have done, Rachael said: “Pick him up, ring an ambulance before calling me, and doing basic first aid, pretty much.”

Little Creek Early Learning opened in November 2023 and says on its website it aims to “set a benchmark for education and care in the community”.

When approached by A Current Affair, the centre director declined to answer questions.

“I’m not answering any of your questions, if you could please leave our site,” she said.

Nikoah’s enrolment has since been cancelled.

Rachael is now calling for additional first aid training for childcare workers and says she also wants an apology.

“So they haven’t apologised for the way that situation was handled?” reporter Brigitte O’Brien asked.

“No, not at all”, Rachael replied.

Statement from the Department of Education 

“The Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority has been notified of the circumstances outlined in the enquiry and has commenced an investigation.

“Specific information is unable to be shared as it may interfere with the open investigation.

Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of children attending early childhood education and care services is the number one priority of the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority.”