Toddler's bucket drowning accidental

The death of 22-month-old Nikita Iris Florenca in a bucket of water died by accidental drowning, the coroner has ruled. Photo / Thinkstock

A coroner's report has found an infant who could not be resuscitated after being discovered face-down in a bucket of water died by accidental drowning.

Nikita Iris Florenca, 22 months, died at home in Taumarunui on December 6 last year.

She had been to kohanga reo and was picked up by her great-grandmother between 2.30 and 3pm and was taken home.

A short time later her mother Panache, great-grandmother and aunt, who were also at the house, discovered Nikita was missing.

Her mother then discovered her daughter face-down in a bucket of water on the veranda that had been used to empty a small swimming pool earlier in the week.

Family members performed CPR on Nikita while waiting for emergency services.

When ambulance officers arrived at house at 3.34pm they found the infant had "no heartbeat, no aspiration and no pulse" and further resuscitation efforts by a doctor and nurse were also unsuccessful, the report said.

Coroner Carla na Nagara found Nikita died from accidental drowning after over-balancing and becoming submerged in the 40 litre bucket of water.

Ms na Nagara expressed her sympathy to Nikita's family and friends.