A Florida family is mourning the loss of their toddler who died after her head got stuck in a toy kitchen playset while at her babysitter’s home, according to local authorities.
Briella, 3, was at her babysitter’s home around 11 a.m. on July 23 with her sibling when their babysitter left them with their spouse, the Boynton Beach Police Department said in a news release.
The babysitter’s spouse found the child unresponsive and tried to save her until first responders arrived, police said. The girl died on July 27, four days after the incident, her family shared on a GoFundMe fundraiser page in her honor.
Police said on July 23 that charges had not been filed and the investigation was ongoing.
The state attorney's office declined to comment and deferred
USA TODAY to Boynton Beach police, who did not immediately respond to requests for additional information, including about the toy set involved in the incident.
Here’s how that horrific day unfolded, according to police.
Babysitter’s spouse was 'periodically checking on the children,' police say
On July 23, the girl and her sibling were at their babysitter’s house in Boynton Beach, about 60 miles north of Miami, police said. The babysitter left the children with their spouse, who stayed upstairs while the children played downstairs.
According to police, the spouse was "periodically checking on the children and giving them snacks."
When the babysitter’s spouse checked on the children for the last time, the person found the girl with her head stuck in a kitchen playset. She wasn’t breathing, so the babysitter’s spouse pulled her from the toy set and tried to save the girl, police said.
Police spoke to the toddler’s sibling, who said Briella’s toys had fallen into the kitchen playset. The 3-year-old was trying to get her toys when she got stuck.
After Briella died on July 27, loved ones created a GoFundMe to help with funeral and memorial expenses, as well as other costs.
"Briella was a bright light in the lives of so many," wrote Thomas Holmes, who organized the fundraiser. "She had a kind heart, a beautiful spirit, and a smile that could light up any room. She touched countless lives with her love, laughter, and compassion, and the impact she made will never be forgotten."
As of Aug. 5, the GoFundMe has received over $76,000 in donations.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3-year-old dies after getting head stuck in kitchen playset
