River-death inquest opens (From Herald Series)

River-death inquest opens

9:11am Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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AN inquest has opened into the death last week of a 10-month-old girl who fell into the River Thames.

Monica Parsons was airlifted to hospital last Wednesday after falling into the Thames near her family's home in Streatley.

Medics at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford initially pronounced Monica dead before noticing a faint heartbeat, but she later lost her fight for life.

Opening her inquest, Oxfordshire Coroner Nick Gardiner said a "definitive" cause of death had not yet been given.

Police inquiries are continuing into the tragedy, which took place off Ferry Lane, in Goring-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire.

Monica's Spanish-born mother Maria, 38, and father Nigel, 44, a chartered accountant, did not attend the hearing.

Mr Gardiner adjourned proceedings until a date to be fixed.

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