Girl, 9, drowned in bath after mum left her alone to look for her favourite toy

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl drowned in the bath after her mum left her alone to look for her favourite toy.

Mia-Ann Myerscough, from Bridgend in South Wales, died on 13 September 2021 after suffering a seizure.

The youngster had a rare form of epilepsy with early onset seizures, cognitive and sensory delays and behavioural problems.

But she had not suffered a seizure for two years before her death, an inquest heard.

Mia-Ann's mum Julia Myerscough had taken her for a bath upstairs in their family home on the evening of 12 September.

But she realised Mia-Anna did not have her favourite Danny Dog squishy toy, which she needed to relax in the bath.

Julia told the inquest at Pontypridd coroners' court that she went downstairs for no more than five minutes.

She said: "She was sitting towards the top of the bath in the corner next to her little squishies - her little friends.

"I made sure the tap was turned off and I went down to get Danny Dog."

Julia's partner Vernon Ward said he heard a "bump" or a "bang" while she was upstairs.

He shouted twice asking Mia-Ann if she was OK - but did not get a response.

When he went upstairs, he found Mia-Ann partially immersed in the water.

Vernon shouted for Julia to come and scooped Mia-Ann out of the water - immediately starting CPR.

Neighbours raced to the house after Mia-Ann's older brother told them there was an emergency.

Paramedics arrived at the home within minutes and raced Mia-Ann to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Resuscitation attempts were later stopped at the paediatric intensive care unit in the early hours of 13 September.

Forensic expert Dr Stephen Leadbeatter told the inquest: "We have no evidence she was submerged in water."

He added: "But she was in the water and her nose and mouth were in the water.

"To me that is still immersion. One cannot ignore that water played a part.

"I can put it as the death is a consequence of immersion in a child with PCDH19-related epilepsy."

TRAGIC MIA-ANN

Julia said she was convinced her daughter had not had a seizure - nor was she about to have one.

The mum had decades of experience looking after family members with epilepsy, including Mia-Ann's adult sister.

Assistant coroner Andrew More recorded a formal conclusion of accident.

He said: "I find on the balance of probability Mia-Ann suffered a seizure which led to her immersion in the bath."

He told Julia she was not being blamed for her daughter's accident and extended his condolences to the family.

Paying tribute, Julia said Mia-Anna was a happy girl who loved her family, Peppa Pig and days out at Margam Country Park.