Mum whose daughter was killed in tragic accident says new baby has given her strength

A heartbroken mum who was heavily pregnant when her car rolled and tragically killed her daughter said her new baby son has given her the strength to keep going.

Mum-of-five Amanda Furner lived through every parent’s worst nightmare of having to plan a funeral for their own child after three-year-old Charlotte died in the freak accident.

The 26-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, was picking her daughter up from kindergarten when she switched on the ignition to turn on the air-conditioning before opening the car door.

But as she went to get Charlotte to strap her into the back seat, Amanda’s car suddenly lurched and rolled backwards on top of her daughter – tragically killing her last October.

Amanda has since given birth to Chase, who is now five months old.

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She her new son has helped give her the strength to keep going.

Amanda, who is also mum to Joshua, nine, Lily, seven, and Bentley, six, said: “Looking back, it was just another normal day like any other.

“I took my older kids to school, and then dropped off Charlotte at kindy. She always loved going there.

“I said goodbye and got on with my day. I was heavily pregnant, so went to a few doctor’s appointments and just was running errands.

“Soon enough, it was nearing 3pm and I went to pick the kids up from school. Then I drove over to the kindergarten, went inside and collected Charlotte.

“The other kids were already in the car. I turned the ignition on and to switch on the air con, as it was a hot day.

“The car was in park and the handbrake was on. I walked over to Charlotte to put her in and that’s when the car took off, rolling backwards.

“We both went underneath and that is as much as I can remember.

“I must have blocked it out, but the kindergarten staff told me I was holding Charlotte, screaming out for help and that she was covered in blood.

“They came out and one of the workers tried to perform CPR on her, while I was taken inside as they wanted to get me away from the situation.

“Someone gave me a chair and told me to sit as I was hyperventilating. Then the police came over and told me that Charlotte was gone.”

Amanda described Charlotte’s service as ‘extremely special’- with her little pink casket adorned with stickers of unicorns and flowers.

Heartfelt drawings from her brothers and sisters were also put near the casket alongside Charlotte’s favourite toys.

She believes that there was a fault in the rental car’s handbrake that caused the freak accident to occur and intends on pursuing legal action in the future.

She said: “Charlotte was very bright. She was a princess and absolutely loved life.

“Everyone adored her and she brightened up every room she walked into. There is an empty space in everyone’s hearts since she left us.

“It was beautiful service. She was our little princess, so we decorated everything how she would have liked it.

“There was pink everywhere and lots of unicorns and flowers. It was extremely special.

“I never thought anything like this could ever happen. The handbrake was on, 100%. I put it on every time.

“It was faulty. If it was working at the time of the accident, Charlotte would still be here.

“I will take legal action in the future. I never want another family to go through what I went through.”

Devastated Amanda says her life will never be the same since losing her daughter and she is still taking it one day at a time.

She said: “Losing Charlotte has been the most difficult and painful time of my entire life.

“But having my kids and giving birth to my new baby boy Chase has given me the strength to keep going.

“It was amazing to see Chase’s face for the first time, he is such a beautiful baby.

“In a time of such sadness, he has bought some joy into my life.

“He is a happy baby and is always smiling, which warms my heart. I can see Charlotte in his eyes when I look at him.

“I know Charlotte would have loved to meet her baby brother, but I know she’ll always be here for him in spirit.

"I want to give my kids the life that Charlotte wanted to have. She’d never want us to be upset.

“It’s never gets any easier, but her memory will never leave us. Cherish every second you have with the people you love.

“You just never know if it might be the last time you’ll see them. I feel Charlotte around me and my heart longs for her every second.”