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Couple's bid to rescue river baby Couple's bid to rescue river baby
(1 day later)
A couple have told how they tried in vain to save a baby girl who died hours after falling into the River Thames.A couple have told how they tried in vain to save a baby girl who died hours after falling into the River Thames.
Ten-month-old Monica Parsons fell into the water at Ferry Lane, in Goring, south Oxfordshire, on Wednesday.Ten-month-old Monica Parsons fell into the water at Ferry Lane, in Goring, south Oxfordshire, on Wednesday.
John and Sue West were on a boat nearby when they were alerted to the scene by the mother's screaming. Mr West jumped in and pulled the girl out.John and Sue West were on a boat nearby when they were alerted to the scene by the mother's screaming. Mr West jumped in and pulled the girl out.
Doctors tried to resuscitate her but her parents were told she would not recover, and she died in hospital. Doctors tried to resuscitate her but her parents were told she would not recover and she died in hospital.
'Screeching noises''Screeching noises'
Her heartbeat had slowed to the extent it was "not enough to sustain life". An hour later, her heartbeat increased again.Her heartbeat had slowed to the extent it was "not enough to sustain life". An hour later, her heartbeat increased again.
Monica, from Streatley, Berkshire, later died in intensive care.Monica, from Streatley, Berkshire, later died in intensive care.
A post-mortem examination is due to be held on Friday at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.A post-mortem examination is due to be held on Friday at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.
Det Sgt Alun Watkins, of Thames Valley Police, said: "This incident is being treated as an unexplained death and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident."Det Sgt Alun Watkins, of Thames Valley Police, said: "This incident is being treated as an unexplained death and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident."
Recalling the rescue attempt, Mr West said: "We heard screeching noises coming from the bushes and we thought at first it was an animal screeching. Then we thought it was kids playing around.Recalling the rescue attempt, Mr West said: "We heard screeching noises coming from the bushes and we thought at first it was an animal screeching. Then we thought it was kids playing around.
"Then my wife said, there's somebody in the water'.""Then my wife said, there's somebody in the water'."
Mrs West said: "I could see her [the mother] and her eldest child in the water and she was shouting, 'my baby, my baby'.Mrs West said: "I could see her [the mother] and her eldest child in the water and she was shouting, 'my baby, my baby'.
"Straight away we stopped the boat. John threw in the anchor, I threw a life jacket to him and he went straight in the water." "Straight away we stopped the boat. John threw in the anchor, I threw a life jacket to him and he went straight in the water."John West found the baby in the water and pulled her out
John West found the baby in the water and pulled her out Mrs West said she only saw the three-year-old girl the mother was holding - the sister of the girl who died - but was told there was another child in the water.
Mrs West said she only saw the three-year-old sister the mother was holding, but was told there was another child in the water.
Her husband swam further downstream until he saw a small hand sticking out of the water.Her husband swam further downstream until he saw a small hand sticking out of the water.
"I managed to grab the hand and I immediately lifted her into a position to drain the fluids out," Mr West added."I managed to grab the hand and I immediately lifted her into a position to drain the fluids out," Mr West added.
"I couldn't administer CPR because I was holding onto the bushes.""I couldn't administer CPR because I was holding onto the bushes."
He passed the little girl to a couple on another boat and swam back to the mother and the other child.He passed the little girl to a couple on another boat and swam back to the mother and the other child.
Eventually, Mr West and a man who had been fishing nearby, managed to get them onto the riverbank. Eventually, Mr West and a man who had been fishing nearby managed to get them onto the riverbank.
'Everything possible''Everything possible'
The baby was airlifted to hospital.The baby was airlifted to hospital.
A spokesperson for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital spent 25 minutes attempting resuscitation.A spokesperson for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital spent 25 minutes attempting resuscitation.
"Everything possible had been done to save the life of the child, including resuscitation attempts at the scene of the incident, in the air ambulance and at the hospital," the spokesperson said."Everything possible had been done to save the life of the child, including resuscitation attempts at the scene of the incident, in the air ambulance and at the hospital," the spokesperson said.
"It was appropriate at this point to inform the parents that there was no realistic hope of recovery."It was appropriate at this point to inform the parents that there was no realistic hope of recovery.
"Occasionally in young children there is something called a vestigial heartbeat of approximately 1 beat per minute, which is not enough to sustain life."Occasionally in young children there is something called a vestigial heartbeat of approximately 1 beat per minute, which is not enough to sustain life.
"After about an hour of monitoring, this rose to 15 beats a minute."After about an hour of monitoring, this rose to 15 beats a minute.
"Despite the fact that a full recovery was very unlikely, the child was moved to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit."Despite the fact that a full recovery was very unlikely, the child was moved to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
"Even with this full intensive care support, sadly she died at 11.40pm on the same day.""Even with this full intensive care support, sadly she died at 11.40pm on the same day."
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "The circumstances leading up to the incident are unclear."A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "The circumstances leading up to the incident are unclear."