9-Month-Old Baby Drowns In Bath While Dad Gets Towel & Nappy

A nine month-old girl drowned after being left briefly unattended in the bath by her father, an inquest heard.

Daisy-Ray Anderson was found face-down in the water when her dad Dale Anderson went to fetch towels and nappies. The tot was in the bath with her 18 month-old sister Lilly – just metres away from where 12 cannabis plants were being cultivated.

A coroner heard that Mr. Anderson and his fiancee Emma were charged with child cruelty after the tragic death but cleared by a jury.

The couple admitted cannabis growing offences and he received a community order while she was conditionally discharged.

Manchester Coroners Court heard how Daisy-Ray drowned on September 24, 2012 after she was put in the bath with her sister by their mum before their dad took over.

When they were ready to get out he called to Emma to bring up towels and nappies and after getting no response went to fetch them himself.

The market trader told the coroner: “I came back up and that’s when I saw Daisy. She was face down in the water. I pulled her out and starting doing CPR on the floor. I was screaming and shouting for help. I got water and vomit out of her mouth but she wasn’t breathing.”

Mr Anderson told the inquest that Daisy was in a baby bath towards the top of the main bath near to the taps, while her sister Lilly was in the main bath.

He said he believed Emma to be in the house in Moston, Gtr Manchester but after hearing nothing from her, he went downstairs to find the front door wide open.

“Emma wasn’t there,” he said. “I slammed the door shut and got what I needed and went back upstairs. I didn’t know Emma was going to leave the house. Then I heard the door go so I ran downstairs and opened the door. She looked at me and I was as white as a ghost. She just ran upstairs and picked Daisy up. She started screaming and panicking.”

The inquest heard that paramedics took Daisy to North Manchester General Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Source: Mirror