THE devastated parents of a two-year-old tot who died after she fell into an outdoor swimming pool at the home of World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty today said they were living every parents' nightmare as they try to rebuild their lives.

A statement issued on behalf of Louise and Graham Walsh, who live in a cottage at Clayton Hey Farm off Ribchester Road, Clayton-le-Dale, described their daughter Hannah as a beautiful little girl who was full of life and energy.

The toddler died while she was playing under "minute by minute" supervision at Mr Fogarty's home in Saccary Lane, Mellor, on Friday as Mrs Walsh visited the bike champion's wife Michaela.

Mr Walsh, a company director, and his wife, who runs a dentists practice in Richmond Terrace, Blackburn, joined Mrs Fogarty at an inquest into Hannah's death yesterday. Their statement after the hearing said: "Hannah was two years, eight months old, full of life and energy. Louise and Graham are now living every parent's nightmare. They somehow have to try to rebuild their lives.

"They seek time together with their family to remember the happiness and love they shared with their beautiful little girl."

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Coroner Andre Rebello heard how Hannah was discovered by her mother at about 4.40pm and how Mrs Walsh jumped into the pool, brought the child to the side and attempted to revive her while Mrs Fogarty telephoned for an ambulance.

But despite efforts to resuscitate the child she was later certified dead by a doctor at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawlor, who carried out a post-mortem examination on Monday, said Hannah would have died the instant she entered the pool. "I think the death was due to immersion in water associated with a mechanism which we as forensic pathologists refer to as dry drowning.

"The effect is when water enters the nose and mouth it causes almost instant unconsciousness and cessation of the heart. People with this mechanism are immediately unconscious and dead within seconds."

Dr Lawlor said that once Hannah entered the water there was nothing anyone could do.

He said: "Once the water had entered her mouth and nose the mechanism would have been initiated and this effect would have started. Despite resuscitation attempts, once this happens it becomes rapidly irreversible.

"Once the heart had stopped it would not have been possible to restart it."

After recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Rebello said: "This was the most tragic, unfortunate accident that absolutely no one could have done anything about.

"Hannah was a precious little child. She was loved and she had a good life but she had a short life. This is the most tragic thing for any parent to face."

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