Post mortem today after baby died in bucket

A post mortem was due today on an 11-month-old baby girl believed drowned in a bucket of water in Auckland yesterday.

The girl was living at a Child, Youth and Family home when her caregiver found with her head in a bucket of water.

Frantic efforts by the caregiver and St John paramedics to resuscitate her failed. Police said they did not believe the death was suspicious.

Police were called to the Lynfield home just after 12.30pm and were told the child had drowned. She been in the care of CYF for most of her short life.

Authorities said today the tragedy showed how careful parents and caregivers needed to be around children who could die in a few centimetres of water.

- NZPA