A 9-year-old reportedly drowned in the bathtub after her mother left her alone to retrieve her favorite toy. Sadly, Mia-Ann Myerscough drowned as a result of epilepsy on September 21, 2021. An inquest occurred on November 5 of this year to determine exactly what happened.
According to The Mirror, the inquest revealed Mia-Ann suffered from a rare form of epilepsy. Mia-Ann reportedly hadn’t suffered a seizure in two years the night she died. It appears her death was a tragic accident.
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Mia-Ann's mom went to get her a toy.
Per The Mirror, Mia-Ann’s mom, Julia Myerscough, left the bathroom to get Mia her favorite Danny Dog squishy toy. The mother claimed Mia-Ann wouldn’t settle down without it and left for only a few minutes.
The mother told assistant coroner Andrew Morse, “Mia-Ann was sitting towards the top of the bath in the corner next to her little squishies – her little friends. I made sure the tap was turned off and I went down to get Danny Dog.”
Myerscough's partner heard a loud noise.
Vernon Ward told the inquest he heard a bang upstairs but didn’t know where it came from, according to Wales Online. He reportedly called for Mia-Ann but didn’t receive a response. He went into the bathroom and found the girl partially submerged in water, then he called Myerscough to help.
They immediately tried to save the little girl.
Meyerscough and Ward claimed they began CPR and called emergency crews for help. Within minutes, paramedics arrived at the home and took Mia-Ann to University Hospital of Wales Cardiff. Sadly, the staff could not save Mia-Ann’s life, and she died early the following morning.
Mia-Ann's exact cause of death remains a mystery.
According to Wales Online, Dr. Stephen Leadbeatter, senior lecturer in forensic pathology at Cardiff University, said he could not determine Mia-Ann’s exact cause of death.
“While we have no evidence she was submerged in water, she was in the water and her nose and mouth were in the water. To me that is still immersion. One cannot ignore that water played a part,” he said. “I can put it as the death is a consequence of immersion in a child with PCDH19-related epilepsy.”
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Mia-Ann's epilepsy seemed to be under control.
Myerscough said during the inquest that she had many years of experience with epilepsy treatment. Mia-Ann’s older sister, who is 25, also lives with epilepsy.
Dr. Alok Gaurav, a consultant within children’s services at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said Mia-Ann’s epilepsy was “really well controlled.”
Her mother added that she could see a seizure coming on as Mia-Ann often went pale and showed key signs. According to her mom, that didn’t happen the day she died.
The court ruled Mia-Ann's death an accident.
Morse determined no foul play in Mia-Ann’s death, according to Wales Online. “I find on the balance of probability Mia-Ann suffered a seizure which led to her immersion in the bath,” he said. He added he did not name Myerscough in her daughter’s death and gave condolences to the family.
