A heartbroken mother is mourning her ‘beautiful baby girl’ who died in a ‘freak accident’ at her primary school.
Olivia-Grace Huxter, eight, suffered a ‘traumatic event’ at the 99-pupil Penrhys Primary School in Ferndale, Rhondda, on Wednesday and later died in hospital.
South Wales police said in a statement the force would not be revealing her cause of death until a post-mortem examination is completed.
Her devastated mother Melanie said: ‘My beautiful beautiful baby girl, I can’t eat, I can’t sleep without you.
‘I’m so grateful I was able to hold you and sing you to sleep one last time with your favourite bedtime song.
‘You were wanted, admired and absolutely adored by everyone lucky enough to have known you.
‘I don’t know what life will look like now. I love you to the moon and back twice.’
Another family member said there had been a ‘freak accident’ in the school which led to the tragedy but no one was to blame.
Olivia-Grace Huxter, eight, suffered a ‘traumatic event’ at the 99-pupil Penrhys Primary School in Ferndale, Rhondda, on Wednesday and later died in hospital
Police are not revealing Olivia-Grace’s cause of death until a post-mortem examination is completed
She said: ‘We as a family wanted to thank you all for your kind messages and love. We’re devastated and trying to come to terms with what has happened.
‘We wanted people to know there was no fault and it was a freak accident.’
Olivia-Grace’s aunt, Adrianne, added in a touching online tribute: ‘Words can’t express how broken I feel right now, I keep wanting it all to be a nightmare and for someone to wake me up from it.
‘I am going to miss your smile, your cuddles, your kisses and most of all us dancing in the kitchen, fly high beautiful angel and rest in peace.’
South Wales Police said they had been called to the school on Wednesday but there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Olivia-Grace’s death.
An investigation into the incident on behalf of the coroner is under way.
Penrhys Primary School initally shut to all pupils following the incident, but reopened today.
In a post on the school’s Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon the head teacher thanked parents for their messages of support and confirmed the school would be closed after the tragedy.
It said: ‘Due to the traumatic event that happened at our lovely school this afternoon we will be closed for all children tomorrow.
‘School will be open for children and staff again on Friday.’
Local councillor for Tylorstown and Ynyshir Julie Edwards said the matter was being investigated by South Wales Police and urged residents to not speculate to stop misinformation spreading.
South Wales Police said they had been called to the school on Wednesday but there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Olivia-Grace’s death
She added: ‘I’ve been made aware of a tragic incident which occurred in Penrhys on Wednesday. South Wales Police are fully investigating the matter and more details will be released shortly.’
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: ‘South Wales Police is investigating the sudden death of an eight-year-old girl in Ferndale.
‘Emergency services were called to Penrhys Primary School in Ferndale just after 2pm on Wednesday, October 8, to reports of a medical episode. The girl was taken to hospital where she later died.
‘There are no suspicious circumstances and an investigation on behalf of the coroner is now under way.’
