Young girl dies after bike helmet got stuck in tree, inquest hears
Freya Thorpe died after her bike helmet got caught as she climbed a tree (Picture: Gofundme) Gofundme
A four-year-old girl has died after her bike helmet got caught as she climbed a tree, an inquest has heard.
Freya's family said they have been 'utterly destroyed' by her death. Supplied
Freya Thorpe had been playing with another girl of similar age near their homes in Upper Heyford, Bicester, in the UK, in September last year when she set her bike aside to climb the tree, the BBC reports.
The court heard she "potentially slipped" suspended from a branch with the helmet strap "tight against her throat".
A local woman, Elizabeth McCall, passed by the children and saw Freya dangling from the branch.
The court heard that Ms McCall phoned emergency services, but was unable to remove her from the tree.
Paramedic Peter Elsmore said a man was performing CPR when he arrived.
The four-year-old died at the John Radcliffe Hospital two days later due to the brain injuries she sustained.
Her father Christopher Thorpe told Oxford Coroner's Court the family's lives had been "utterly destroyed" by his daughter's death.
Freya Thorpe is believed to have slipped while climbing a tree. Supplied
The court heard the area where the accident happened was a "popular place for younger children to play" and was surrounded by 12 houses.
Mr Thorpe said he and his wife loved Freya "more than life itself".
"I would like to thank anybody that tried to help my little girl."
Coroner Darren Salter ruled her death an accident.
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