18-month-old girl chokes to death on her own vomit on her first ever day at nursery
AN 18-month-old girl choked to death on her own vomit on her first ever day at nursery.
Little Olesya Gak died just one hour after she was taken to a private nursery in the Ukraine, after her carer reportedly did not immediately call an ambulance.
Reports say the toddler stopped breathing after being put in bed on May 29 by her 51-year-old nanny, identified only by her name of Iryna.
The girl’s father Eduard Gak told local media: “Olesya was a very active child and we decided it was time for her to meet other children.
“One hour after we left her with Iryna, she called and said that Olesya stopped breathing.
“I rushed to the nursery and found my daughter lying in bed. Her body was naked and barely warm. I performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”
Only after everybody has gone, the nanny called emergency services.
Eduard Gak, father
Explaining the tragic incident, Iryna said that Olesya had a tantrum after being bitten by an older child during a row over a toy, according to the father.
According to the nanny, Olesya became so stressed that she began to vomit and Iryna decided to put her in bed to calm down.
But Olesya’s devastated mother Alina Gak said: “I don’t understand why she [Iryna] put my daughter in bed despite she was vomiting.”
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
The parents question why the nanny for not immediately call for paramedics and believe the slow response could be responsible for their daughter's death.
Mr Gak said: “When I came to the kindergarten I saw other parents who was hurriedly taking their children away. Only after everybody has gone, the nanny called emergency services.”
When paramedics arrived the child was already dead.
Post-mortem examinations showed that the toddler suffocated after vomit blocked her airways, say Ukrainian media.
Law enforcement launched a criminal case for murder against Iryna. It has emerged that she was not authorised to run a nursery.
Police spokeswoman Olena Lebedynska commented: “Examinations are underway to determine the exact time of the child’s death.
“The suspect does not have a permit to provide the services.”
Iryna faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
The investigation is continuing.
The woman organised her illegal nursery in her three-room apartment in the city of Zaporizhia, in southeastern Ukraine.
She provided services for pre-school children and was popular in the area, neighbours said.
About ten children of different ages visited the nursery on a daily basis where they ate and played together, according to reports.
Zoya, a woman living next door said: “She regularly shouted at children and they constantly cried. But parents continued to bring them in. It went on for years.”
Now the residents of the apartment block regret they did not report the suspicious nursery to authorities earlier.
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