Four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a three-month-old baby girl died while camping with her family in Staffordshire.
Officers were called to land off Strawberry Lane near Great Wyrley
Emergency services were called to an area off Strawberry Lane near Great Wyrley at around 8.45am on Saturday, September 5, after receiving reports that an infant was in cardiac arrest.
Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a helicopter from the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity were sent to the scene. Despite advanced life support being administered, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.
Staffordshire Police said two men and two women were arrested at the location in connection with the investigation. All four have since been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Those arrested are a 42-year-old man from south Staffordshire, a 30-year-old woman from south Staffordshire, a 20-year-old woman from Wolverhampton and an 18-year-old man from Walsall.
Family asks for privacy after tragic death
Tributes left in woodland at the Wyrley and Essington nature reserve Staffordshire(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
The baby’s family has since spoken out, saying the child and her parents had been visiting the girl’s grandfather, who had been staying in the area for a fishing trip.
In a statement released via Chase TV, the family said: “We as a family appreciate the community concerns and well wishes for this tragic event that happened where the children and parents joined grandad for a night fishing at the pond.”
The statement continued: “As everyone can understand it is a traumatic time for everyone involved and we would ask for some privacy at this difficult time without speculation while Staffordshire Police do their job, as we as a family don’t even know the details or circumstances ourselves.”
A woman who identified herself as the baby’s grandmother later visited the scene with two relatives. She told journalists that the baby and her parents had spent just one night in the tent, while the child’s grandfather had been camping in the area for several nights.
She confirmed that the family had been visiting him when the tragedy occurred.
Police warn against speculation
The infant was camping with her family in Great Wyrley at the time(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
Detective Inspector Josh Lee, from Staffordshire Police’s child protection team, said officers were working around the clock to establish what happened.
“I want to assure the local community that we are working around the clock to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident, which has understandably caused concern,” he said.
He stressed that the investigation remained at an early stage and that officers were keeping an open mind.
“While we can confirm that all four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder, we are still working hard to obtain further evidence and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of the death at this very early stage, which we are treating as an isolated incident.”
DI Lee also urged members of the public not to spread unverified claims about the case online.
“While we fully understand that speculation into the nature of this incident is likely to take place, we’d ask people to follow this page for factual, accurate updates as our investigation unfolds and to avoid sharing unconfirmed and speculative claims online,” he said.
Woodland area used for fishing trips
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
The location where the baby died is not an official campsite.
Locals told the BBC that teenagers regularly use the secluded area to stay overnight while fishing at two nearby pools. The spot is described as being hidden away from the main woodland within the Wyrley and Essington Branch Canal Local Nature Reserve.
Police initially cordoned off the area while investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death.
The cordon has since been lifted, allowing family members and friends to return and leave floral tributes and a toy bunny rabbit at the scene.
Ambulance crew attempted to save baby
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed that emergency crews were called following reports of a medical emergency near Strawberry Lane shortly before 8.40am.
“On arrival we discovered one patient, a female child,” he said.
“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite their best efforts it became apparent nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.”
The four suspects remain on bail as Staffordshire Police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the three-month-old girl’s death.
Police have described the incident as isolated and have asked the public to rely on official updates rather than speculation while inquiries remain ongoing.