LITTLE NICOLA SPECK DIED FROM MASSIVE BURNS AFTER

LITTLE NICOLA SPECK DIED FROM MASSIVE BURNS AFTER A BATHTIME

TRAGEDY WHEN SHE WAS SPRAYED WITH BOILING WATER.

THE ONE YEAR OLD TODDLER WAS SCALDED AS SHE WAS BEING BATHED

BY HER AUNT IN THE KITCHEN SINK, THE ST PANCRAS INQUEST HEARD ON

THURSDAY.

A WATER DISPOSAL PIPE FROM A WASHING MACHINE TO THE SINK

SPURTED BOILING WATER OVER THE ONE YEAR OLD’S BODY .

HER AUNT, MRS GILLIAN SPECK, HAD JUST FINISHED WASHING NICHOLA

AND TURNED ROUND TO GET A TOWEL WHEN HER HUSBAND WALKED INTO THE

KITCHEN AND SAW THE BOILING WATER POURING FROM THE PIPE ONTO THE

CHILD.

ALTHOUGH MRS SPECK SAID SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER HOW HOT THE

WATER WAS MEDICAL EXPERTS SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS 60

DEGREES CENTIGRADE.

THE WASHING MACHINE WAS SWITCHED OFF AND NICHOLA WAS BATHED IN

COLD WATER BEFORE AN AMBULANCE RUSHED HER TO HOSPITAL SUFFERING 50%

BURNS TO HER LEGS, STOMACH AND FOREARM.

THE TRAGEDY HAPPENED ON JULY 20.

THE BABY’S PARENTS, OF

DANES CROFT, LETCHWORTH, HERTS, HAD ATTENDED A WEDDING RECEPTION THE

NIGHT BEFORE AND LEFT NICOLA AND HER OLDER BROTHER WITH THEIR AUNT

AND UNCLE AT MEADOW WAY, SEVENAGE.

NICOLA WAS BEING WASHED IN THE SINK AFTER ENJOYING A MESSY

SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST.

‘I JUST FORGOT I HAD THE WASHING MACHINE ON’, A TEARFUL

MRS SPECK TOLD THE CORONER.

‘NORMALLY I AM SO CAUTIOUS.

IT WAS

STUPID.

‘

HER HUSBAND, LEONARD, SAID: ‘I JUST HAPPENED TO COME INTO THE

KITCHEN WHEN MY WIFE TURNED ROUND TO GET THE TOWEL.

I SAW HOT WATER

POUR OUT ALL OVER THE BABY.

‘A LOT OF WATER WENT INTO THE SINK QUITE SUDDENLY AND IT WENT

DIRECTLY ONTO NICOLA.

‘THE DRAINPIPE FROM THE WASHING MACHINE IS A PERMANENT

FIXTURE.

IT’S QUITE EASY TO FORGET IT’S THERE’.

NICOLA WAS TRANSFERRED TO THREE DIFFERENT HOSPITALS.

BUT

DESPITE EXTENSIVE TREATMENT HER CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETRIORATE.

SHE DIED ON AUGUST 7 AT THE UNIVERSITY COLEGE HOSPITAL,

LONDON.

ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL HER HEART HAD STOPPED TWICE, THE

INQUEST HEARD.

PATHOLOGIST DR STEPHEN GOULD GAVE THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS

MASSIVE BURNS AND BLOOD POISONING CONTRACTED AS A RESULT OF THE

SCALDING.

RECORDING A VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH CORONER DR THOMAS

DALE SAID: ‘THIS HAS REVEALED A TRAGIC STORY.

THERE IS NO REASON TO

BELIEVE THERE IS ANY NEGLIGENCE INVOLVED’.

AFTER THE HEARING NICOLA’S UNCLE LEONARD SAID: ‘WE ARE VERY

SORRY THAT IT HAPPENED.

IT WAS AN UNFORESEEN ACCIDENT’.

ENDS