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Lila Marsland, just weeks away from her sixth birthday, was found unresponsive beside her mother, Rachel, 36. The heartbreaking discovery occurred when Rachel awoke to find her daughter no longer breathing. Paramedics arrived quickly, but sadly, it was too late—Lila had been dead for several hours.
Rachel, devastated and still searching for answers, shared her grief with Manchester Evening News, saying, “I woke up and she was dead next to me. I rang for an ambulance, but she had been gone a few hours. They gave her CPR, but it was already too late. I still can’t believe it’s happened.”
Described as kind and affectionate, Lila was a beloved student at Flowery Field Primary School in Hyde. Her mother recalled how Lila would hug every teacher during pick-up time and was adored for her bright red hair and cheerful personality. “She was the nicest child ever,” Rachel said.
The cause of Lila’s sudden death remains unknown, compounding the family’s sorrow. “We don’t feel we can properly grieve without answers,” Rachel added.
Lila’s funeral, held a month later, was a heartfelt tribute. A horse and carriage led the procession, and her school community turned out in full. “It was the perfect day for her,” Rachel said.
In October 2024, an inquest opened at Stockport Coroners Court. Troublingly, it was revealed that Lila’s original medical records from the weeks before her death had been misplaced. One missing entry dated October 8, 2023, suggested she had been assessed and prescribed paracetamol, yet she never received it. This raised serious concerns about missing documentation.
Area Coroner Chris Morris called the loss of the records a “serious matter” and ordered they be located. The court is now relying on a previously made copy of the missing records.
