A mother’s life was torn apart in a moment of unimaginable grief when she woke to find her five-year-old daughter unresponsive beside her.
What began as a typical morning turned into a devastating reality for Rachel Marsland, 36, as she discovered that her daughter, Lila, had quietly passed away in the night. With few explanations and growing uncertainty, the loss has left a family heartbroken and a local community in shock.
Little Lila Marsland, just weeks away from her sixth birthday, was found lifeless by her mother, who immediately called for help. Emergency responders arrived quickly but determined that Lila had already been deceased for several hours.
“I woke up and she was just gone,” Rachel told the Manchester Evening News. “I called for an ambulance right away, and they got here within minutes, but it was too late. They tried CPR, but she had been gone for hours. It’s something I can’t even process—I still can’t believe she’s not here.”
A pupil at Flowery Field Primary School in Hyde, Lila was described as a bright, affectionate child full of love and laughter. Rachel fondly remembered her daughter’s generous spirit: “She was kind to everyone. Every day at school, she would hug the teachers—she loved people so much it would take her half an hour just to leave.”
Adding to their heartbreak, the family is left in limbo, waiting for clarity on the cause of death. “We haven’t been told what took her from us,” Rachel explained. “It’s hard to grieve properly when you don’t even know why it happened.”
Lila was laid to rest about a month after her passing, surrounded by a sea of mourners from her school and local area. “Her funeral was beautiful,” Rachel said. “We had a horse and carriage, and the church was filled with people who loved her. It was the perfect way to say goodbye.”
The tragedy occurred on December 28, 2023, but nearly a year later, the circumstances remain murky. In October 2024, a formal inquest began at Stockport Coroners Court, revealing troubling developments during a preliminary hearing.
According to reports from Manchester Evening News, crucial medical documentation from the weeks before Lila’s death had gone missing. Notably, there was no record of a medical evaluation allegedly conducted on October 8, 2023, at 6:35 p.m. However, other entries suggested she had been prescribed paracetamol, which would indicate involvement from a qualified healthcare provider.
Area Coroner Chris Morris acknowledged the seriousness of the missing documentation, calling it a significant issue. “It is a matter of concern,” he said, instructing officials to locate the original records. The court was told that although the original files were lost, a full copy had been previously made and was available for review.
Given the complexity and significance of the situation, Mr. Morris has ordered a jury inquest that is anticipated to last eight days—unusually lengthy for such cases.
Searching for Closure
As Rachel and her family await the full findings of the inquest, they continue to navigate overwhelming grief and confusion. Lila, remembered for her kindness, red curls, and radiant personality, left a lasting impression on all who knew her. While the support from the community has offered some comfort, her loved ones are still searching for the answers they need to find peace. As the legal process moves forward, they hope that truth and accountability will eventually emerge, honoring Lila’s memory in the justice she deserves.