A toddler in Florida died from suffocation after a tragic accident with a toy kitchen set left her head trapped inside the play equipment, according to findings from a medical examiner.
Three-year-old Briella Holmes died on July 27, four days after the devastating incident occurred at a babysitter’s home in the Meadows of Boynton Beach community in Florida.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that Briella’s death was ruled an accident, with the cause listed as “probable positional asphyxia.”
Briella’s grieving mother, 42-year-old Suzi Holmes, said she and her husband, Jason, remain too shattered by the loss of their youngest child to discuss the tragedy in detail.
“We are devastated, and we just can’t talk now. We are just trying to get through each day,” she told the Daily Mail.
In a tribute shared with the outlet, Suzi and Jason described Briella as “pure joy in a tiny, stubborn, independent little package.”
They said their little girl had a song for every moment, adding: “She loved to sing, about everything and nothing, and if you spent even a few minutes with her, you knew it right away.”
The heartbreaking sequence of events began on the morning of July 23, when Briella was at her babysitter’s house and had been left in the living room with her older preschool-age brother, Brock.
Briella Holmes, three, suffered a freak accident involving a toy kitchen set and died of suffocation after becoming stuck, a medical examiner has told the Daily Mail
Briella passed away on July 27 after the incident which unfolded four days before at a babysitter’s house in Meadows of Boynton Beach. She is pictured with her brother, Brock
Boynton Beach Police said the children were being supervised by a nanny, who left them in her spouse’s care as she headed out.
‘During this time, the spouse remained upstairs as the children played downstairs, periodically checking on the children and giving them snacks,’ the department said.
‘The spouse came down to check on the children and located the three-year-old with their head stuck in a kitchen play set.
‘The spouse removed the child and immediately began performing life-saving measures until first responders arrived.
‘The toddler’s sibling advised that the child’s toys had fallen into the kitchen play set when they attempted to retrieve the toys and became stuck.’
Officers were dispatched to the home just after 11am, with a caller telling them the child was ‘unresponsive and not breathing.’
‘Upon arrival, officers located the toddler and immediately began life-saving measures,’ police said.
Boynton Beach Fire Rescue also arrived on scene and transported the child to a local hospital in critical condition.
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Briella’s heartbroken parents, Suzi and Jason Holmes, remembered her as ‘pure joy in a tiny, stubborn, independent little package’ in a tribute sent to the Daily Mail
The medical examiner told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that the child’s manner of death was an ‘accident’ caused by ‘probable positional asphyxia.’ Briella is pictured with her brother
Tragically, Briella died four days later on July 27.
Police are investigating the child’s death. No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Details about the toy kitchen set she was playing with when the accident happened, including the make and brand, have not been disclosed.
In their tribute shared with the Daily Mail, Briella’s parents said she was ‘kind from the very beginning’ of her short life and ‘the kind of kid who lit up a room without even trying.’
‘She adored her big brother, Brock, with her whole heart,’ they added.
‘Briella, you were, and always will be, one of our life’s little miracles.’
The family has also launched a fundraiser to cover Briella’s funeral and memorial expenses.
‘Thank you for your love, support, and generosity as we honor Briella’s life and cherish the memories she gave us,’ they wrote on the page.
Briella died after getting her head stuck in a kitchen playset while being cared for by a babysitter in Meadows of Boynton Beach, Florida, pictured above
Kathy Wall, president of Safe Kids Palm Beach County, gave a warning to parents and caregivers in light of the incident.
‘Our kids are our greatest assets, they’re our future, and we have to be present for them, day to day,’ she said.
‘We have to have active supervision in keeping them safe.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Boynton Beach Police for more information.
