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Whitecross girl, 4, 'had been stabbed by father' Whitecross girl, 4, 'had been stabbed by father'
(about 3 hours later)
A girl who was seriously hurt in an incident that left a man dead in Cornwall was reportedly stabbed by her father, a neighbour said.A girl who was seriously hurt in an incident that left a man dead in Cornwall was reportedly stabbed by her father, a neighbour said.
Patricia Swiggs described the "absolutely terrible" moment when the girl's mother brought her into her home in Whitecross after she was hurt.Patricia Swiggs described the "absolutely terrible" moment when the girl's mother brought her into her home in Whitecross after she was hurt.
The girl, four, is stable in hospital with "serious internal injuries".The girl, four, is stable in hospital with "serious internal injuries".
Police have not commented on details, but a man, believed to be the girl's father, died at the scene on Thursday.Police have not commented on details, but a man, believed to be the girl's father, died at the scene on Thursday.
Mrs Swiggs said she was inside her house at the hamlet near Polruan when she heard cries for help and went outside to find the girl's mother with the child in her arms.Mrs Swiggs said she was inside her house at the hamlet near Polruan when she heard cries for help and went outside to find the girl's mother with the child in her arms.
"She said, 'Please help me, help me'. She said, 'Her father has stabbed her and I don't know what he's done to himself, he's in lying on the floor'," Mrs Swiggs explained."She said, 'Please help me, help me'. She said, 'Her father has stabbed her and I don't know what he's done to himself, he's in lying on the floor'," Mrs Swiggs explained.
She said she called an ambulance before attending to the girl in the kitchen.She said she called an ambulance before attending to the girl in the kitchen.
"I had to get a tea towel, which was the quickest thing," she said."I had to get a tea towel, which was the quickest thing," she said.
"She was absolutely looking terrible."She was absolutely looking terrible.
"The ambulance came first, then two air ambulances came and loads and loads of police."The ambulance came first, then two air ambulances came and loads and loads of police.
"They were everywhere. We had to move our kitchen table out on the patio to make room," she said."They were everywhere. We had to move our kitchen table out on the patio to make room," she said.
Airlifted to hospital At the scene: Eleanor Parkinson, BBC News
A small terraced house is sealed off with police tape. Evidence of family life is in the garden - a children's toy and and a cat box. This is the scene of the tragic events that have left a young girl in hospital and a father dead.
One villager in this small hamlet of Whitecross told me how she realised something was wrong when she heard cries for help at lunchtime on Thursday.
Patricia Swiggs said she saw the child's mother carrying her daughter, who was obviously badly injured.
She said: "I have no first aid training, but I did what comes naturally and I was doing my best to comfort the little girl".
Residents in this small community say they remain shocked and stunned.
Mrs Swiggs' husband Edgar added they "hadn't slept for the night" afterwards.Mrs Swiggs' husband Edgar added they "hadn't slept for the night" afterwards.
Devon and Cornwall Police would not comment on how the girl was injured, but a spokesman confirmed they were not looking for anyone else following the incident, which is under investigation.Devon and Cornwall Police would not comment on how the girl was injured, but a spokesman confirmed they were not looking for anyone else following the incident, which is under investigation.
"The girl was airlifted to Derriford Hospital with serious internal injuries," he said."The girl was airlifted to Derriford Hospital with serious internal injuries," he said.
"She's been operated on overnight so her condition is stable, we believe. The man was treated at the scene and unfortunately he died at the scene"."She's been operated on overnight so her condition is stable, we believe. The man was treated at the scene and unfortunately he died at the scene".