Witnesses spoke today of the distressing scenes after a seven-year-old girl was fatally injured in a York suburb.
The girl was found by police in a field just behind houses in Alness Drive, Woodthorpe, at 4.30pm on Monday.
Along with paramedics they administered CPR before she was rushed to York Hospital where she later died of her injuries.
A 15-year-old girl was arrested at the scene. She was being interviewed by detectives today.
The bereaved family is being supported by specially-trained officers.
A police forensic tent has been put up on the spot where the little girl was found, a short way up a muddy lane.
Close by a black Peugeot 206, possibly belonging to one of the parents, was parked. It was later removed by a family who brought flowers.
‘It’s my little girl’
Rob McCartney lives in the house next to the field. He witnessed the emergency unfold.
He said the parents arrived separately after their daughter had been hurt.
“The mother was running up the street saying ‘help get an ambulance’,” said Rob, 50, an engineer. “You could see a young girl lying in the field.”
He said:
She was in the field and back in the cul-de-sac and back in the field.
We said ‘are you OK?’. She said ‘no, no – it’s my little girl’.
Then the father turned up. He was very, very distraught.
Another witness told reporters: “The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying and saying things.
“It was quite distressing.”
The girl’s grandparents left a floral tribute at the scene today. It said: “Night night my darling princess Katie. Love Nana and Grandad.”
Cordoned off
Police have been parked in the drive of a large detached house close to the scene overnight.
Shortly before 9am a mobile police unit arrived. A crime scene investigation unit is also on the scene. The entire cul-de-sac has now been taped off.
Other neighbours, clearly shocked, left the quiet Woodthorpe cul-de-sac left for school and work without commenting.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Ellis of North Yorkshire Police said officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries.
Det Ch Insp Ellis said: “Specially trained officers are supporting the victim’s family at this extremely difficult time for them.
“Clearly the circumstances require the investigation to be conducted in a particularly sensitive manner.”
Earlier North Yorkshire police had issued this statement:
Officers attended and, upon visiting a scene nearby, they found a seven-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.
An ambulance attended and the girl was taken to York District Hospital, where she sadly died a short time later.
A 15-year-old girl has been arrested in connection with the incident. She remains in police custody for questioning.
Officers remain at the scene while the investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of the girl continues.
