'I woke up next to my five-year-old and she was gone. We don't know why'

The inconsolable mother of a five-year-old died who unexpectedly has spoken of her “horrendous” nightmare.

Lila Marsland was found unresponsive by her mum Rachael on the morning of December 28. The pair had been sharing a bed together at the time.

An ambulance was called but it's believed the "amazing” little girl had been gone for several hours. Tragically, Lila was pronounced dead at the scene, just two weeks before her sixth birthday.

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Now her heartbroken family have spoken for the first time about their devastating loss – saying they don’t yet know how Lila died.

“I woke up and she was dead next to me,” Rachael Mincherton, 36, told the Manchester Evening News. “I rang for an ambulance but she had been dead a few hours.

“They gave her CPR; they arrived within minutes but it was already too late. It’s horrendous. I still can’t believe it’s happened.”

Lila, a Flowery Field Primary School pupil from Hyde, was known for her bright red hair and her zest for life.

Described as “the nicest child ever,” the youngster would hug every teacher before leaving school and was always playing out with her friends.

“She was amazing,” Rachael, who grieves alongside Lila’s dad Daz, 41, and sister Ava, 14, said.

“Because we don’t know what she’s died of, I don’t feel like we can even grieve properly at the moment. We haven’t even been given answers on how she’s died.

“She was the nicest child ever. She had bright ginger hair. She was kind to everyone; I would take her to school and pick her up and she would be hugging all the teachers. It would take her 30 minutes to leave.

“She loved Halloween, dancing, tap, ballet, cheerleading and going to Rainbows. She played out all the time and had a nice group of friends. She just loved life.”

An inquest into Lila's death has been opened. The hearing is set to go ahead in November.

Her funeral was held one month after her passing at St Mary's in Newton – the church packed out with people wishing to say their goodbyes.

“It was a nice send off for her,” Rachael added. “We had a horse and carriage. The church was absolutely packed; all the school attended. It was the perfect day for her.”

The family have since set up a charity – Lila's Light – as a legacy to Lila’s life. It aims to create hospital bereavement bags for siblings who have lost a brother or sister.

“When we left the hospital, we left with a box but it was tailored more to adults,” Rachael said. “We want to aim it at children.”

The family are now set to hold a fun day on August 17 to raise money for their bereavement bags.

A football match featuring Emmerdale actor Danny Miller, known as Aaron Dingle, will be held at Stockport Sports Village between 10am and midday.

A family fun day will follow at The Queens in Bredbury including an auction, rides, stalls, a bouncy castle and food. All proceeds raised will go towards Lila's Light.

“It keeps Lila’s name alive,” Rachael, who works as a nurse, added. “It’s something positive to focus on.”

The family have since set up social media accounts for Lila's Light, the Facebook account can be found here and the Instagram account here.