Police probe girl's death

By Jonathan Barnes

POLICE are investigating the sudden death of a 12-year-old disabled girl who is believed to have drowned in a bath.

The youngster allegedly tipped over in a water-filled bath at her home in Ipswich on Monday.

She was taken to the town's hospital but doctors could not save her life and police were told of her death at about 6.20pm.

They are now looking into the circumstances surrounding the girl's death while social services have also launched an inquiry into the incident, which happened at an address in Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “We are currently conducting inquiries following the sudden death of a 12-year-old girl.

“Police were notified by staff at Ipswich Hospital at approximately 6.20pm on Monday, January 3.

“The girl had been taken to hospital by the ambulance service from an address in Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich.

“The girl, who is disabled, had allegedly tipped backwards in a bath. A post-mortem examination was carried out by a Home Office pathologist on Tuesday, January 4, and further tests will be carried out.”

She said the coroner had been informed of the death and added: “Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this unexplained death and are liasing with social care services.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council's social care services said: “We have been made aware of a police investigation surrounding the death of a 12-year-old disabled child, as is customary in the case of any child's death. As inquiries are ongoing, we cannot comment further at this stage.”

A spokeswoman for the East Anglian Ambulance Service said a call was taken just before 5.15pm on Monday with a report of a girl who was in a bath and not breathing.

Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene and the child was taken to Ipswich Hospital, she added.

The family declined to comment last night.