‘Syd’s Ducks’ set up in memory of New Forest teenager Sydney-Jade Harris sees people taking the rubber toys around the world

A heartbroken mum who set up a unique travelling rubber ducks tribute to her teenage daughter after her death has seen them reach cross the globe.

Sam Legg, from the New Forest, launched ‘15 Ducks for Sydney’ following the death of the 15-year-old on 31st October 2023 which was her mum’s birthday.

An inquest this week in Winchester heard that Sydney – known as Syd – drowned at her home after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure.

Following the tragedy Sam spoke to her daughter’s best friend.

Sam said: “She said her and Syd used to say they were like two little ducks. This reminded me of our duck hunting on holiday on cruises; ducks are hidden around the ship, and you go and find them. It became Syd’s favourite past time.”

Sam and her family decided to buy little ducks and give them away or hide them along with a message asking people to take them on their travels in memory of Sydney – who loved to go abroad – and send back pictures.

The response has seen ducks end up all over the UK, Europe and as far as India, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Africa, Lapland, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Japan, Thailand, Cuba and China.

During their travels the ducks have also enjoyed Sydney’s passion of snowboarding as well as skiing, trekking, helicopter rides, cruising, mountain climbing, paddleboarding and surfing.

They have also enjoyed theatre visits and music gigs.

Photos of ‘Syd’s Ducks’ on their travels are featured on a Facebook page Sam created along with a world map where they have been pictured.

On it she wrote: “Our aim is to fill the globe with wonderful scenic duck photos so we can imagine Sydney in those places, whether it be at a rock concert, on the beach, on the top of a mountain or in a bar.”

“It's heart warming to know that people will take Syd’s Ducks with them, and we like to think if there is an afterlife she's watching where they are going and continuing to travel.”

Overwhelmed by the response Sam, who describes her daughter as being the “most thoughtful caring person I know” has now set up a fundraising page to buy more ducks to give away. She has ordered 1,000 with “matching hair to Syd” who boasted pink streaks.

On it she told how Sydney, who worked part-time at The Riverside Cafe in Fordingbridge, planned to become a snowboard instructor and “travel the world teaching”.

Sadly, she never got that chance. At the inquest it was revealed that on 31st October two years ago Sydney went into the bathroom at her home in Ibsley, near Ringwood, at around 8.20am to take a shower and wash her hair .

In a statement Sam told how Sydney’s stepfather became concerned because she did not respond when he knocked on the door to use the bathroom around 15 minutes later.

After picking the lock Sam found Sydney lying under water in the bath with the shower still running. She was pulled out of the water and given CPR by the couple, but it was too late.

A type-1 diabetic, Sydney suffered her first fit in August 2023 while in Guernsey. She went to A&E where it was advised she have an MRI scan when she returned home.

But coroner Nicholas Walker, reading a statement from a consultant paediatrician, said this was not standard procedure in the UK after one seizure.

In September Sam found Sydney lying on the floor of her bedroom after having seemingly suffered another fit. She had been referred to an epilepsy clinic and was waiting for an appointment at the time of her death.

Sydney had been advised to be aware of the danger of taking a bath if epilepsy was suspected, the inquest heard. Mum Sam says as a result she only took showers after it, but on the day she died the plug was later found to be in.

Sam believes Sydney collapsed after suffering a third fit and the bath filled up as the shower continued to run.

As a result of Sydney’s death, the way referrals are now dealt with at the clinic has been changed so new ones wait only two weeks for an appointment.

Ruling Sydney’s death as a result of drowning Mr Walker added: “More likely than not she did suffer a seizure of unknown origin.”

He said what had happened was “a parent’s worst nightmare” and he sent his sympathies to Sydney’s family.

To donate visit: bit.ly/3RSwD2W

To view Syd’s Ducks’ visit bit.ly/42eABsN