Toddler dies on holiday as family hit by second tragedy
Jul 21 2008 by The Journal
A TODDLER has died after she slipped into a swimming pool and hit her head while on a family holiday in Turkey.
Two-year-old Lucy Cardwell, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was on holiday in the resort of Dalyan when she fell into the pool as she played.
Her death comes 16 months after her 15-year-old uncle, Daniel Cardwell, died in a nature reserve lake.
The Foreign Office yesterday confirmed Lucy’s death. A spokesman said: “We can confirm that a British national did die in an incident in Turkey on Friday.”
Lucy, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was on holiday with her mother Sophie, grandfather John and Sophie’s partner Karl, at the home of a family friend.
Sources said she was playing by the side of the pool when she slipped into the water and banged her head.
Turkish news reports claimed that Lucy’s mother dived into the pool to save her daughter as soon as she realised what had happened.
It is thought emergency doctors attended the scene and gave Lucy artificial respiration and heart massage before she was taken to four different hospitals.
She was placed in intensive care but died in hospital on Friday.
In March last year, Lucy’s uncle, Daniel, was found dead the day after he drank a litre of alcohol and waded into the waters of Marden Quarry in Cullercoats, near Whitley Bay. In an exclusive interview with The Journal last October, the toddler’s grandmother, Marie Cardwell, 41, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, spoke of her doting son’s close bond with his niece.
And yesterday, friends and family left messages about Lucy’s death on a tribute website dedicated to Daniel. On the Gone Too Soon forum, Dan Dryden, from Newcastle, a friend of Daniel’s, wrote: “I’m sorry to hear about your Lucy. My thoughts go out to everyone in your family, especially Sophie. No doubt uncle Dan will look after and protect her up there. R.I.P to both of you.”
Another well-wisher, named only as Staci, from Whitley Bay, wrote: “Hey Danson. Can’t believe this has happened all over again with Lucy, please help your family get through this. They have the support from everyone. We all miss you still so, so much. Look after your little niece.”
And another uncle, Paul Armstrong, from Whitley Bay, wrote: “Take care of our little niece Daniel, I know you will. Take care, miss you both.”
