Parents griefstricken after toddler dies

PARENTS of a two-year-old girl are griefstricken today after she died following a fall into a garden pond near her Suffolk home.

The unnamed toddler wandered from her home and fell into a homemade pond in a private garden on the opposite side of the street.

Paramedics and the girl's father made desperate attempts to save the child but she died later in hospital.

Suffolk police said the child is believed to have wandered from her home in Evergreen Lane, Great Bradley, near Haverhill on Saturday, walked across a road and fallen into the pond at around 5pm.

The alarm was raised and the girl's father managed to resuscitate his daughter.

Paramedics arrived and managed to keep the girl breathing as she was taken by ambulance to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "An ambulance and rapid response paramedics both arrived at Evergreen Lane at around 5pm. When the paramedics arrived the little girl was breathing, but with difficulty.

"Paramedics went with her in the ambulance and worked on her all the way to hospital."

The child was later pronounced dead by staff at the hospital.

The girl's mother was too distraught to speak, and people who live in the tiny village, were trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

Although neighbours in the cul-de-sac where the little girl lived, respected the wishes of her family by declining to make any comment, there was a clear sense of grief amongst them.

In light of the accident Suffolk police warned parents to be vigilant and to ensure children are always supervised when they are around ponds.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said: "The coroner has been informed of the death and an inquest will take place in due course. Suffolk police will not be naming the girl prior to the inquest."