Young boy who tragically drowned in a display home pool is identified – as heartbroken dad breaks his silence with a powerful message

A grieving father whose son was found unresponsive in a northern Victorian display home pool says he wants pools to be covered when homes are vacant. 

Gurshabad Singh, 8, could not be revived after emergency services found him in a pool in Kialla in northern Victoria on Sunday evening.

He was found in the pool located at a G.J. Gardner display home in an estate near Shepparton, just before 7pm. 

His father, Talwinder Singh, said his autistic son jumped into the pool and drowned. 

In the wake of the tragedy, he has questioned why the plunge pool wasn’t covered. 

‘Just cover the bloody pool so the kids can’t see, they can’t go in,’ he told ABC News. 

‘The kids are attracted to the water. Cover the pools, that’s all. That’s what I want.

‘It is an example how quick the kids can go in… My son was an autistic child. He just jumped and drowned in the water.’

On Tuesday, G.J. Gardner – an Australian home builder – said the pool was fenced and compliant with all safety regulations.

‘We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the young boy, and our thoughts remain with them as they navigate this heartbreaking time,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We will continue to do everything within our power to support the authorities with their investigation.

‘We are also providing support to the Shepparton team as they are understandably distressed by this tragedy.’

The G.J. Gardner display home opened just two months ago. 

Kialla resident and family friend Kamal Dhillon said the incident had devastated the community.

‘Everyone is very, very sad… We have known this family for a very long time,’ he said.

‘All of us are together. We’re trying to … help [with] whatever we can … to help to get through this time.’

Less than 24 hours later, a child and their mother drowned in Dandenong Creek in Melbourne’s south-east.

It is understood the woman entered the water in an attempt to rescue the child, but began to struggle herself. 

There have been 357 drownings across Australia in 2024-25, according to the National Drowning report.

Private pools account for 10 per cent of drownings.

The latest tragedies are ‘a sad and timely reminder’ for parents and carers to keep a vigilant eye on children at all times when around water.

‘Children remain one of the highest risk groups for drowning with home pools, bathtubs and dams leading locations for these incidents,’ a Life Saving Victoria spokesperson said.

‘We encourage parents and caregivers to actively supervise children at all times when around water, enrol your child in swimming and water safety lessons, learn CPR so you can assist in an emergency, and restrict children’s access to pools and other water bodies by ensuring there are sufficient barriers in place.’