SCHOOL YARD TRAGEDY (From Warrington Guardian)

SCHOOL YARD TRAGEDY

A COMMUNITY has been devastated by the death of six-year-old girl after she collapsed in her school playground.

Matilda 'Tilly' McGuinness died after falling over in the playground of Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, on Wash Lane, on Wednesday.

Despite attempts to resuscitate her, Tilly, who had a heart problem, died at Warrington Hospital.

Tilly's parents Beverly and Alan were too upset to speak at the time of going to press.

Teachers, parents and classmates have been left reeling at the news, and counselling has been offered to friends of the little girl.

Teachers handed out letters to parents as they collected their children from Our Lady's on Wednesday afternoon.

Many were visibly distressed at the news.

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: "Mums and dads were just breaking down as they read the letter. They were standing around crying. We just couldn't take in what had happened."

One of the McGuinnesses' neighbours, who had a condolence card to give to the family, said: "It's such a tragedy.

"Everyone around here is just devastated. She was a beautiful little girl.

"Her family are absolutely inconsolable, and her little brother just wants his sister back.

"She used to love to go over to the park and play on the swings. She'd had a lovely Christmas and then this happens.

"It's so upsetting. You don't expect that something like this will happen when your child is at school.

"You just think you drop them off and you'll pick them up later.

"I remember clearly the day she was born and her dad came round, and he was ecstatic when he said they'd had a little girl. He was over the moon. They are just devastated now."

Family friends and neighbours have started a collection for the family and say people have been overwhelmingly generous with donations.

Julie Johnson, headteacher at the school, said: "Tilly was a much-loved member of our school family. She was a very kind and popular girl, who loved playing with her friends, and she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very sad time.

"As a school community we will be discussing with Tilly's parents, and those who knew her well, at a later time, an appropriate way of remembering Tilly's time in our school."