Lydia, 3, died in play slide on her first day at nursery

A THREE-year-old girl who died after becoming entangled in rope attached to a children’s slide was on her first day at nursery, the police have revealed.

An investigation began yesterday into how the girl, named by police as Lydia Bishop, suffered fatal injuries during the incident at York College Nursery on Monday.

Emergency services were called to nursery play area at 2.35pm but she was pronounced dead later at York District Hospital.

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Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Costello said: “This was an extremely tragic accident which unfortunately happened during Lydia’s first day at nursery.”

He said Lydia’s parents, Rebecca Dick and Brad Bishop – who are in their early 20s – “are finding it extremely difficult as it is just 24 hours since they lost their only child”.

Police yesterday started to interview nursery staff as part of the multi-agency investigation which includes the Health and Safety Executive, Ofsted, York College and the city’s safeguarding children’s board.

“We need to determine how this happened and whether it could have been prevented or foreseen,” said DCI Costello. “We have taken possession of the rope that was on the slide, which Lydia became tangled in, and we need to determine whether the rope is on the slide as manufactured or whether it was added subsequently.

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“We have yet to determine a cause of death. The nursery will remain closed for the rest of the week as police need to establish whether a crime has been committed.”

Alison Birkinshaw, York College principal, described Lydia’s death as “devastating” and offered her sympathies to her family and nursery staff, whom she said had acted immediately to call the emergency services.

Joe Cocker, manager of the City of York Safeguarding children board (CYSCB) said: “It is impossible to imagine what the parents must be going through, and my thoughts are with the family at what is an extremely difficult and upsetting time.”

Parents of other children who attend the nursery laid flowers there yesterday. Rebecca Thompson, 40, left flowers and a card, reading: “To a lovely little girl, rest with the angels.”