"He couldn't yell for help": Heartbroken dad speaks out
<p>The heartbroken father of six-year-old Joey Vines has spoken out about the tragic death of his young son. </p>
<p>Joey's father Steven told police that while they were searching for the young boy while he was missing, he would not answer as he was non-verbal and unable to call for help. </p>
<p>Police joined the frantic search for Joey on Sunday afternoon after he was reported missing in the Perth suburb of Booragoon. </p>
<p>Just 90 minutes later, he was found unresponsive in their neighbours' swimming pool and tragically died later in hospital. </p>
<p>Steven said life would never be the same without his "beautiful boy". </p>
<p>“He was a beautiful little autistic boy, who couldn’t yell for help because he was non-verbal,” he told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/six-year-old-boy-couldnt-yell-for-help-after-falling-into-neighbours-pool-in-booragoon-c-6234952" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>.</p>
<p>“He was a bloody special, special kid.”</p>
<p>"We loved him to death and everyone that was in his life, he melted their bloody hearts."</p>
<p>Joey leaves behind five siblings, who have all been left devastated by the accident. </p>
<p>Steven said, “He couldn’t talk but we knew how to communicate with him. We loved him to death.”</p>
<p>The six-year-old had just started school again at a facility for special needs children and was coming along in “leaps and bounds”, according to Steven. </p>
<p>WA premier Mark McGowan offered his condolences to the grieving family. </p>
<p>“Obviously a shocking thing and we were all hoping for the best, but it didn’t turn out that way. So can I pass on all our thoughts to little Joey’s family,” he said.</p>
<p>Police say the death is not suspicious and a report will be prepared for the State Coroner.</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Nine News footage / WA Police</em></p>
