Nyla May Bradshaw, a seven-year-old girl, was found dead in a pond at Owston Hall Golf Course in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Nyla was autistic, non-verbal, and had no danger-awareness, making her a flight risk who tended to run off. South Yorkshire Police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Nyla's death.
Nyla was reported missing just before 10:00 BST on March 30 in the Skellow area of Doncaster. Nyla's mother, Hayley, dropped her off with a new childminder for the first time on March 30 at 7:45 am, according to multiple reports. Nyla's usual childminder, based next door, was unavailable over the Easter break, leading to the use of the new childminder, multiple reports indicate.
The babysitter later told Nyla's mother she hadn't used reins because she had been 'holding her hand fine'.
The childminder was told that Nyla was a 'flight risk', according to family friend Charlotte Cooper. Nyla's parents kept her on reins while out in public and never let her walk alone, Cooper added. Nyla's body was located by a police helicopter in the pond, according to multiple reports.
Eyewitnesses described a large emergency response, including a police helicopter, drones, paramedics, and an air ambulance. South Yorkshire Police deployed officers, drones, and a police aircraft for the search. The child was pronounced deceased despite the best efforts of emergency services.
Family friend Charlotte Cooper described Nyla as an 'escape artist' who often scaled fences and saw it as a game.
The childminder was Ofsted-registered and had been recommended via Facebook, with qualifications described as extensive, according to family friend Charlotte Cooper. However, according to Daily Mirror - Main, Hayley explicitly told the babysitter to keep Nyla indoors and not take her out anywhere. According to Daily Mirror - Main, the babysitter described that she hadn't used reins because she had been 'holding her hand fine'.
A provisional date for a full inquest is set for December 8, according to multiple reports. Nyla escaped through a gap in a fence and headed towards nearby woodland, according to an inquest. The babysitter ignored the instructions and took Nyla outdoors to a woodland path and park, without using reins, according to Charlotte Emma.
Family friend Charlotte described Nyla as non-verbal, severely autistic, and beautiful.
The child's family has been informed and is being supported by police, South Yorkshire Police said. A fundraiser has raised over £14,500 in 24 hours to support Nyla's family, according to multiple reports. Owston Hall golf course spans around 80 acres and includes water features.
Charlotte Cooper has launched a campaign with Little Rainbows Doncaster for improved SEND care provision beyond school hours, according to multiple reports. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 198 of March 30. The investigation into the childminder's actions and oversight remains ongoing, with authorities yet to release full findings.
It is unclear how Nyla managed to escape through the fence gap and reach the pond undetected, or what safety protocols or guidelines were followed by the childminder during the outing. The exact cause and time of Nyla's death are pending the full inquest, which may provide more clarity on these unknowns.