Visitor had fears for safety of toddler who died

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A visitor to a Palmerston North house called emergency services because of fears for a 3-year-old girl who later died in hospital.

The girl was playing with three other children at the Hulme St house on Wednesday.

They were being looked after by a man who was not related to the girl, but police will not say what, if any, relationship he has to the other children, who are aged 2, 4 and 6.

The visitor raised the alarm about 1.20pm and when ambulance staff arrived, they found the girl unconscious and suffering from critical head injuries.

The toddler, who has not been named, died at midday yesterday with her family at her bedside.

An autopsy was held but details have not been released.

Neighbours said the family had not lived in the house long and mainly kept to themselves.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan of Palmerston North police said: "The post-mortem will hopefully give us a much better understanding of how the young girl died.

"Even then, we will need to consult medical professionals and interview the occupants of the house in detail before we can draw any real conclusions."

Mr Sheridan said the family had co-operated fully with the police.

Officers were still at the house last night completing a scene examination. The children in the house had been placed in the care of extended family.