Tributes paid to ‘always happy and smiling’ schoolgirl, 8, who died just days before Christmas

Tributes have poured in for an ‘always happy and smiling’ eight-year-old girl following her death from suspected Strep A.

Emily Tredwell-Scott passed away just days before Christmas with health chiefs probing links to an ‘invasive’ strain of Step A.

The schoolgirl’s father desperately attempted to perform CPR on Emily as an ambulance was called, according to The Sun.

Following Emily’s death, a woman was questioned on suspicion of child neglect, but has now been released on bail.

Tributes have poured in as an eight-year-old girl who died from suspected Strep A was named by police as Emily Tredwell-Scott

An array of flowers and heartfelt messages now surround their home in Lampeter, Cardiganshire.

Neighbour Paul Bradley, 48, told The Sun he ‘couldn’t believe it’ when told that the ambulance outside was for Emily. 

He said: ‘She was a lovely little girl, always happy and smiling. It’s just terrible, especially at this time of year.

‘I’m heartbroken, she was so lovely, she would knock the door to pet my dog Seren and come calling for ice-cream in the summer.’ 

A spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said: ‘We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden unexplained death of an eight-year-old girl in Maes-y-Deri, Lampeter, on the evening of Thursday, 22 December.

‘A 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of child neglect on Friday, 23 December, and has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.’

An array of flowers and heartfelt messages surround their home in Lampeter, Cardiganshire

Neighbour Paul Bradley, 48, said she was a ‘lovely girl’ who was ‘always happy and smiling’

A woman was questioned on suspicion of child neglect following her death, has now been released on bail

The force also said that HM Coroner for Ceredigion has been informed and ‘accepted jurisdiction of the case’.

A joint investigation between health chiefs and Ceredigion Council is probing whether the girl’s death is linked to Strep A.

Dr Graham Brown, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: ‘We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those affected. Public Health Wales cannot comment on individual cases.

‘We are investigating links to Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease (iGAS), a very rare complication of Group A Streptococcal infection.

‘While we understand that parents are likely to be worried, cases of iGAS remain rare in Wales, and children have a very low risk of contracting the disease.’

A spokesperson for Ceredigion Council said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and we are supporting them in every way we can. The Council cannot comment further due to the ongoing police investigation.’