Little ray of sunshine who inspired vital water lessons
| Published date | 24 July 2024 |
| Publication title | Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser |
Yet, it was water - in which Darcey Doig spent so many fun, carefree hours - that would be responsible for tragically claiming the three-yearold's life.
On St Valentine's Day 2020 - two years after Darcey's parents had moved from Glasgow to South Africa in pursuit of a 'barefoot' lifestyle for their children - a tragedy unfolded in the family's swimming pool that would have a devastating, irreversible impact on everyone who loved her.
Although Kirsty Doig will never recover from her daughter's loss to drowning, she is now spearheading a worldwide campaign that is Darcey's legacy - an international foundation that is spreading sunshine to the lives of children through survival swimming lessons, water safety education and nutrition.
Back in 2016, when Kirsty was due to give birth to her second child, she told excited four-year-old son, Hunter, that he could name his little sister.
"He wanted to name her Sunshine," recalls Kirsty. "We didn't see that one coming."
If a typical dreary April day in the city of Glasgow was anything to go by, contemplated Kirsty, she could comfortably make a pact with her son.
Hunter's parents agreed that if the baby was born on a sunny day, he would have his wish. They didn't believe the odds to be stacked in his favour.
"As it turned out, it was the sunniest day of the year. I was in the Southern General, and it was so hot," said Kirsty, 40, who gave her daughter the middle names Elizabeth, after her gran, and Sunshine, as chosen by Hunter.
"Everyone thought we were joking, until they saw her passport - and there it was."
Just two months before Darcey's fourth birthday, relatives from Scotland were staying with the Doigs at their villa in South Africa.
As mum-of-three Kirsty recalls, it was a beautiful February afternoon and the children were cooling of f in the pool after a day playing together outdoors.
In anticipation of the arrival of friends for a barbecue, she was in the kitchen preparing food while the adults sat by the poolside, watching all of the children having fun in the water.
As they jumped into the pool, two of the older children accidentally clashed heads and a nose was burst open.
The accident - and the resulting blood, tears and comforting - caused a brief moment of distraction, with nobody realising that competent little swimmer Darcey was missing.
Kirsty, whose younger son, Lachlann...
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