Investigation continues into child's death

A post mortem is being carried out this afternoon to assist police in finding out how a three-year-old girl died in Palmerston North.

Police and ambulance were called to the Hulme Street address around 1.20pm yesterday (Wednesday, 19 August) by an adult visitor to the address.

The girl, who is unlikely to be named until tomorrow, was found unconscious, assessed by ambulance personnel at the scene and then taken to Palmerston North. Within a very short time she was transferred to the intensive care unit just before noon today (Thursday, 20 August) she sadly died.

Prior to the visitor arriving at the house and calling the emergency services there had been one adult man there who is not related to the girl who died. Four children had been in his care during the morning including the dead three-year-old.

The other children were 2, 4 and 6 and some of the children were the dead girl's siblings. All of the other children were appropriately placed with extended family last night. Child Youth and Family are supporting police in relation to the children, particularly with regard to interviewing them.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said: "The post mortem will hopefully give us a much better understanding of how the young girl died. Even then we will need to consult with medical professionals and interview the occupants of the house in detail before we can draw any real conclusions. We are getting the full support and co-operation of the family.

"It is early days and I don't want to second guess what happened or the outcome of the investigation. These sensitive investigations take time."

Details of the injuries the child sustained are not being disclosed at this stage. In the meantime the house remains in the control of police and a examination of that house will continue throughout this afternoon and in to the evening.