A 10-month old baby badly burnt when scalding water poured into her cot has died in Bristol Children's Hospital. Rhianna Hardie suffered 85% burns in the accident at her home in Taunton, in November. She died late on Tuesday.
The accident happened on the first night parents Charlie Haworth and Matthew Hardie, both 21, spent in the semi-detached council house. Mr Hardie suffered burns to his hands and arms as he pulled the baby from the sodden cot.
The couple had spoken for the first time on Tuesday about the accident and how their "beautiful" daughter had surprised specialists at the hospital with her progress.
They had heard a loud bang coming from her room when the accident happened and found hot water pouring from the ceiling on to the child's cot below. Rhianna's two-year-old sister Emily was also in the room at the time, but was uninjured.
Miss Haworth, a health worker, described how she and her fiance had cried at Rhianna's bedside, but had been unable to pick her up or even kiss her because of her injuries.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said it was "terrible news", but the family did not want to release further details about Rhianna's death. A post-mortem examination into Rhianna's death will be held in the next few days.
The Avon Coroner is expected to open and adjourn an inquest into her death in Bristol next week.
A spokesman for the West Somerset Coroner said the case would then be transferred to Taunton for a full inquest early next year.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Taunton Deane Council have launched investigations into the accident and Avon and Somerset Police said that it was continuing to investigate the death with the HSE.
"We would like to express sincere condolences to Rhianna's family at what is obviously a very sad time for them," a spokesman said.
Police have said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Rhianna's injuries.
Read the original report of the accident.
Look at other News Headlines Here
Our Main News Section
December 13 2006 |
What? No Daddy?
