Cornwall inquest details fatal accident of 11-year-old girl

An inquest held in Truro has detailed the death of 11-year-old Lilly Angel Rodgers, who died following a fatal accident at Wacker Quay in Torpoint, Cornwall. The incident occurred on August 16 last year while Lilly was playing in the mud flats of the River Lynher with two friends.

According to testimony, Lilly was playing games such as “starfish” and “commando crawls” on a muddy bank when a hidden, pointy branch or root pierced her ribcage. The pathologist, Dr. James Garvican, stated the injury was “extremely bad luck,” noting that a shift of only half an inch in the branch's position might have avoided vital organs. The branch severed a pulmonary artery, causing her heart to stop.

Witnesses reported that Lilly stood up, grabbed her chest, and collapsed after the impact. Despite rescue attempts and emergency services being called, the injury was deemed non-survivable. Lilly, a resident of Devon, was described during the hearing as a fit and active girl who loved outdoor activities.