Pictured: Tragic little girl, two, who drowned in a backyard swimming pool on New Year's Day - as the NSW death toll on the water hits 17 this summer
A two-year-old girl has tragically drowned after she was found unconscious in a backyard swimming pool on New Year's Day.
Vera Peacock, 2, was found dead in the water by her uncle at around 6.10pm on Sunday after he noticed the pool gate was left unlocked, Nine News reported.
The family was hosting a party at the Macquarie Fields property in Sydney's south-west when the girl's uncle noticed she had been missing for a few minutes.
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Vera Peacock, 2, was found dead in the water by her uncle at around 6.10pm on Sunday after he noticed the pool gate was left unlocked, Nine News reported
Vera Peacock, who was found lifeless in a pool, pictured on her second birthday
The uncle, who only wished to be known as Jason, said the New Zealand family was reeling over the tragic death.
'She is everything to us and though she's gone now she will forever be in our hearts and minds,' he told The Daily Telegraph.
'We love you always.'
The devastated family have gathered around each other at the Macquarie Fields home to decide if they will hold a traditional Maori funeral.
The family was hosting a party at the Macquarie Fields property in Sydney's south-west when the toddler was found floating in the backyard swimming pool on New Year's Day
A two-year-old girl has died after she was found unconscious in a backyard swimming pool
Paramedics attempted to revive the toddler before she was rushed to Liverpool Hospital where she later died.
Police are investigating and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Macquarie Fields acting Superintendent Mark Brett declined to comment on whether the gate was left opened or how the child fell into the pool.
'We are unsure how the child got into the pool area, there are a number of varying reports,' he said as he confirmed the girl had been missing for a 'few minutes'.
'At this stage the child was not seen for a while and we need to work our way through it to establish what the correct facts are.'
He also begged parents to supervise their children at all times, especially around the pool as he paid tribute to the little girl.
'Our prayers and thoughts go out to the child. I can't imagine the grief those people are going through at this stage. It's very hard,' he said.
'Secondly, just a word of warning, please parents, be vigilant with your children… especially [with] toddlers [who] do travel really quickly.
'There's a lot of people meeting for the first time in a long time and it's very easy to become distracted.
'Don't assume you know where they are. Be sure you know where they are.'
The girl was found unconscious in the backyard swimming pool on New Year's Day
Emergency services were called to the Macquarie Fields property on New Year's Day
Paramedics attempted to revive the toddler before she was rushed to hospital where she died
The latest incident comes after a spate of drownings in the state, with 17 water fatalities reported so far during the Christmas period.
On Monday, police found the the body of a 44-year-old man in Lake Eucumbene a day after he disappeared in the water while on holiday with his family.
Toddler Robbie Manago, 23 months old, tragically passed away on Thursday - three days after his twin sister Charli also died.
The Sydney twins were found floating in the pool at their Kellyville home in north-west of Sydney on December 20.
On Saturday a toddler was pulled from a pond unconscious, breathless and with his skin turning blue in northwest of Sydney.
The 21-month-old boy was rescued by his mother from the pond near their campsite at Wiseman's Ferry on the Hawkesbury River.
The boy is recovering in hospital after being revived before he was airlifted to the Children's Hospital at Westmead.
A two-year-old girl is fighting for her life after being pulled unconscious from a pool on Atchison Road (pictured) in Macquarie Fields