Messages of support have flooded in for an "amazing" girl who died suddenly after playing in the park.
Phoebe Smith from Croxteth, was playing with her older brother, 13, younger sister, nine, and two cousins on Saturday, March 5 in Calderstones Park as their parents sat on the grass nearby. Phoebe's mum, auntie and uncle first realised something was wrong when the kids came over and told them the 12-year-old was lying on the ground.
As the family went over to the swings where the children had been playing, they found Phoebe unconscious on the ground. They immediately called 999 and the North West Ambulance Service arrived at the scene.
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Phoebe was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and a CT scan found she had a brain aneurysm, which had burst, and was taken for emergency brain surgery.
Despite extensive surgery and Phoebe giving a "good fight", the 12-year-old sadly died. Since publishing the article, ECHO readers have paid their condolences and sent messages of support to her family.
Writing on the ECHO Facebook page, Yvonne Owens said: "So tragic, healing thoughts and prayers to the family. RIP Phoebe." Andrew Regan added: "So heartbreaking, my thoughts are with Phoebe's family and friends."
Stephanie Louise T also said: "We will all miss Phoebe at her high school. Such a bubble happy girl who made such an memorable impact on so many people in a short space of time, thinking of her family."
Kerry Black added: "Absolutely heartbreaking, fly high precious angel, forever young. My condolences to all your family and friends so, so sad watch over your parents from heaven above and send them the strength their going to need to try and get through each day without you beautiful girl."
Steffi Moss said: "She really was one of a kind! Everyone at her high school misses her so much" She really did light up the room when she walked into it! Miss you Phoebs. Thinking of all her family!"
Phoebe's family were told she had a heart murmur when she was younger, but this was never an issue. The family said her death came as a complete shock.
Phoebe's auntie, Victoria Davies, 28, told the ECHO : "She sadly couldn’t take anymore and she gained her angel wings. We as a family are all heartbroken, it is extremely hard. It's hard because there's nobody to blame, she didn't bump her head and it just came from nowhere and was shocking."
Victoria described Phoebe as an "amazing child" and said she was "one of them kids you don't forget".
She told The ECHO : "Phoebe was an amazing child, she was 12 and autistic and had an amazingly bubbly personality. She was one of them kids you don't forget, she would walk into a room and just light it up completely. She was mischievous but in a comedic way, she was always laughing and making everyone else laugh."
The family has now set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Phoebe's funeral. Since being created on March 15, the family have raised almost £1.450 from 86 donations.
Victoria said: "We ask for your help to give Phoebe the send off she deserves. As you all know things nowadays aren’t cheap and even though we are all supporting each other we cannot pull money out of thin air.
"Any donations will go directly to Phoebe’s mum to help with flowers and send off but any remaining donations will go towards helping her immediate family recover after this heartbreaking situation."
To donate to Phoebe's GoFundMe click here.
