Mum wakes to find five-year-old daughter dead beside her

Tragic Loss of 5-Year-Old Lila Marsland

Lila Marsland, just weeks shy of her sixth birthday, was found unresponsive next to her mother, Rachel, 36, in their home. When Rachel woke up and realized her daughter wasn’t breathing, she immediately called the paramedics. Sadly, when help arrived, it was too late. The paramedics confirmed that Lila had been dead for several hours before they reached the home.

A Heartbroken Mother’s Words

Rachel shared her shock and grief with Manchester Evening News. “I woke up and she was dead next to me,” she said. “I rang for an ambulance but she had been dead a few hours.” Despite the quick response from the paramedics, Lila couldn’t be revived. Rachel expressed her disbelief, saying, “It’s horrendous. I still can’t believe it’s happened.”

Lila was known for her kind nature. Rachel explained that her daughter would always hug her teachers and took her time leaving school, often spending 30 minutes saying goodbye to everyone. Lila attended Flowery Field Primary School in Hyde and was described as “the nicest child ever.”

The Family’s Struggle for Answers

Rachel continued, “Because we don’t know what she’s died of, I don’t feel like we can even grieve properly at the moment.” The cause of Lila’s death remained unknown, and the family still hadn’t received answers about how or why she died.

A Heartfelt Farewell

Lila’s funeral took place a month after her death, with everyone from her school attending. Rachel recalled, “It was a nice send-off for her. We had a horse and carriage, and the church was packed. It was the perfect day for her.”

An inquest into Lila’s death opened in October 2024 at Stockport Coroners Court, with new details expected to emerge.