Thousands raised in memory of girl found in pond

Thousands of pounds have been raised in memory of a seven-year-old girl found dead in a pond after going missing.

Nyla May Bradshaw was reported missing from Skellow in Doncaster, just before 10:00 BST on Monday before being located in the water at Owston Hall's golf course. She died at the scene.

A fundraiser set up to support her family in the wake of her death has raised more than £14,500 in 24 hours.

Nyla's heartbroken parents, Kieran Bradshaw and Hayley Beardsley, said their daughter had been "our whole world", adding: "She brought so much joy into our lives and into the lives of everyone who knew her."

Bradshaw described Nyla as his best friend, and said he did not know what the rest of their lives would look like "without our little girl".

He said: "You were so loved Nyla. I'll never ever go a moment without you in my thoughts."

According to family friend Charlotte Cooper, Nyla, who was autistic and non-verbal, was the "sweetest girl", "full of light and amazing energy".

"I knew her her whole life, watched her brothers grow up too, who absolutely adored their baby sister," she said.

"She was just magical. She knew nothing of sadness, only love."

Cooper added: "She was just in Nyla's world and just happy."

When asked about the little girl's tendency to run off, Cooper told the BBC she was an "escape artist" and often scaled high fences because she saw it as a "game".

She also said Nyla was well known in the community for running off but her parents kept her on reins while out in public and never let her walk on her own.

Cooper said Nyla's family were "staying strong" but her mother was angry and "not in a good place".

"She blames herself a lot because she thinks because she decided to work, this is her fault - and it's just not.

"I'm concerned for their mental health and how they're going to get through it," she added.

Cooper also said she was worried about Nyla's father.

"Their bond was amazing," she said.

Cooper said Nyla had been with an Ofsted-registered childminder when she went missing, who had been recommended to the family via someone in the community on Facebook.

Nyla's usual childminder, who was based next door, did not have any availability over the Easter break so her mother used the new one, who "had a list of qualifications as long as her arm", said Cooper.

The childminder was told that Nyla was a "flight risk". Cooper said by about 9:45 GMT Nyla's parents received a phone call saying Nyla had gone missing and her body was later found by helicopter in the pond "some distance" from the park they had been at.

In an update on Wednesday, South Yorkshire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Nyla's death.

"This is a heartbreaking incident and the child's family remain in our thoughts," a force spokesperson said.

"We know the impact of this news has extended beyond the family and into local and wider communities.

"We are now acting on behalf of the coroner and, in line with normal procedure, we will work with City of Doncaster Council and Ofsted to ensure the correct processes are followed."

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