A 10-year-old girl struck by a car on a sports pitch died from head injuries, an inquest has heard.
Poppy Atkinson was taking part in a football training session at Kendal Rugby Union Football Club late in the afternoon of Wednesday 5 March when the collision took place.
On Tuesday, Kirsty Gomersal, acting senior coroner for Cumbria, opened the inquest into Poppy’s death.
What happened?
Poppy was at a football training session at Kendal Rugby Club when she was killed after being hit by a BMW i4 electric car.
Part of the metal fencing on the all-weather pitch perimeter, near to a parking bay, was flattened by the vehicle.
An eight-year-old girl, also from Kendal, was injured in the incident and taken to hospital, but her injuries were not life-threatening.
A 40-year-old male motorist from Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was later released while investigations continue.
Cumbria Constabulary previously said the collision was not thought to be a deliberate act.
What happened at the inquest?
Gomersal said Poppy’s death was confirmed at the scene in Shap Road by paramedics at 5.12pm, shortly after the collision.
A post-mortem examination was later carried out with a provisional cause of death given as head injuries, she added.
The talented young footballer’s parents, Ben and Clare, and other family members did not attend the brief hearing at Cumbria Coroner’s Court in Cockermouth.
Gomersal told the family’s solicitor, Emily Taylor, to pass on her “deepest condolences” to Poppy’s family and friends.
The coroner said she would suspend the inquest as police inquiries are ongoing, but no date was fixed for a further hearing.
Tributes
Poppy’s funeral took place on Monday in her home town of Kendal.
Hundreds lined the streets, many dressed in red – Poppy was a Manchester United fan – at the family’s request, to pay their respects.
An artist’s impression on her coffin showed the youngster with a football by her side in a poppy field looking ahead to Old Trafford’s “Theatre of Dreams” stadium with the sun on the horizon.
Poppy’s parents, Ben and Clare, and seven-year-old brother Edward joined other family members and friends in the congregation at Kendal Parish Church.
Also in attendance were players and officials from local junior football teams, with many wearing Manchester United shirts with the number 10 and Poppy on the back.
Mourners formed a guard of honour in the church grounds where earlier four young boys with “Poppy” football shirts kicked around a football.
Inside, tributes to the talented footballer were read out by her parents, her headteacher at Old Hutton CE Primary School, Nick Turley, and one of her local football coaches, Corey Smith.
Poppy was in the under-12s team at Kendal United and also played at county level.
After her death, her family said she was “100% determined to be a professional footballer”.
They said: “Poppy was the focal point of our lives, everything for us revolved around Poppy’s love for football.
“Many who know her, and who know her determination to improve and win, had no doubt she would achieve her goal to one day to play for Manchester United.
“Poppy touched so many lives, it was easy to see why. Her energy, character, spirit and passion for football was infectious and touched huge numbers of people.”
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