Just weeks shy of her sixth birthday, Lila Marsland—a bright, red-haired girl known for her infectious smile—was found unresponsive next to her mother, Rachel, 36.
“I woke up and she wasn’t breathing,” Rachel told Manchester Evening News. “They gave her CPR, but it was too late. It’s horrendous. I still can’t believe it’s happened.”
Lila had already been gone for several hours by the time paramedics arrived. She was described by her mother as “the nicest child ever”—a joyful student at Flowery Field Primary School in Hyde, with a wide circle of friends and a heart full of life.
Her sudden passing on December 28, 2023, sent shockwaves through the community. A month later, hundreds turned out for her funeral. “It was a beautiful send-off,” Rachel said. “We had a horse and carriage, and the church was packed.”
But as the grief lingers, so do the unanswered questions.
An inquest opened in October 2024 at Stockport Coroners Court has revealed deeply troubling inconsistencies. Original copies of Lila’s medical notes from the weeks leading up to her death have been reported as “misplaced.” One critical document from an October 8 appointment is missing—though a prescription for paracetamol was issued, suggesting she had been seen by a senior practitioner, there’s no corresponding record in the file provided.
Area Coroner Chris Morris described the missing records as a “serious matter” and has ordered an exhaustive search. Due to the complexity of the case, the inquest has been extended to eight days and will include a jury—an uncommon step in child death investigations.
For Rachel and her family, the agony is compounded by the mystery. With no answers, no closure, and no clear cause, they remain suspended in grief.
“We can’t begin to heal,” Rachel said softly. “Not until we know what really happened to our little girl.”