13/12/2006

Baby scalded by burst pipe dies

A ten-month-old baby girl who was scalded by boiling water from a burst pipe has died in hospital.

Rhianna Hardy suffered 85% burns when boiling water poured into her cot at her family's council home in Taunton, Somerset.

The accident happened on the first night that Rhianna's parents, Charlie Haworth and Matthew Hardie, 21, had moved into the semi-detached council house with Rhianna and her two-year-old sister Emily.

The couple had heard a loud bang from the children's bedroom and discovered boiling water pouring into Rhianna's cot.

Mr Hardie suffered burns to his hands and arms as he pulled the baby from the cot. Emily, who was also in the room at the time, was uninjured.

Rhianna was being treated at Bristol Children's Hospital after being transferred there due to the severity of her injuries.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that Rhianna's death was "terrible news".

The Health and Safety Executive and Taunton Deane Council have launched an investigation into the accident.

Avon and Somerset Police said that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Rhianna's death.

(KMcA/EF)


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