A toddler died just a week after her family moved to their new home in Baan Baa, near Narrabri in New South Wales, Australia. Lily Chifor was reportedly playing outside with her sister, Aria, and other children when a tragic accident occurred. The 1-year-old somehow wandered into the path of an oncoming freight train. The accident took a toll on the tiny village and its tight-knit community.
The accident occurred on November 7, 2025, while a group of children played, according to 7 News. “Our understanding is that the child was just playing. This is a really tragic case of a child who had gone to play in a bad location,” Oxley Police District Superintendent David Cooper said.
“The child was with a number of other children. The parents were not in the immediate vicinity, but we are aware of where the parents were, and the supervision of the child is not in doubt,” Cooper added.
Australian Broadcasting Company reported that several witnesses saw the accident, and paramedics arrived a short time later. They attempted life-saving measures before taking Lily to Narrabri Hospital. Sadly, doctors declared her dead later that evening.
@7newsaustralia A baby has died after being struck by a freight train in western New South Wales. #baby #tragedy #accident #train #nsw ♬ original sound – 7NEWS Australia
Cooper said Lily’s death has hurt the entire village. “I want to highlight that this is nothing but an absolute tragedy, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family,” he said.
“This will have a broad impact on the community, and we want to make sure everybody gets the support they need,” he added. “I can only imagine the horror and grief that they [the family] are in at the moment.”
The train driver, a 22-year-old man, evidently didn’t realize he’d hit the child, Australian Broadcasting Company reported. He was notified a short time later. He stopped the train and took part in testing standard for this type of accident.
“There is no suggestion at all that the train driver had any negligence, and I feel for that young man as well,” Cooper added.
Australian Broadcasting Company reported that Narrabri Shire Council Mayor Darrel Tiemens shared his support for the family and his small village.
“If this happened in a suburb of Sydney, it would be tough, but when it happens in a tiny village where everyone knows everyone, it’s really hard to take,” he said. “It’s an incredible community,” Tiemens added. “They will rebuild, but at the moment it’s just a matter of us all getting over the shock.”
Lily’s family must be heartbroken, and we can’t imagine how that poor train operator must feel. This is the kind of tragedy no one should ever have to experience. Hopefully, they will all heal and find a meaningful way to honor Lily’s short, but important, life.
