Poppy Atkinson, 10, was taking part in a football training session at Kendal Rugby Union Football Club on March 5 when the collision with a BMW i4 electric car took place
A 10-year-old girl run down by a car on a sports pitch died from severe 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, March 5 when the collision with a BMW i4 electric car took place. This morning, Kirsty Gomersal, acting senior coroner for Cumbria, opened an inquest into Poppy’s death and revealed a post-mortem gave the provisional cause of death given as head injuries
Ms Gomersal said the youngster’s death was confirmed at the scene by paramedics at 5.12pm, shortly after the collision. 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.
Ms 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 she understood that police inquiries were ongoing. No date was fixed for a further coronial hearing.
A 40-year-old man from Lancaster arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released under investigation. Cumbria Constabulary previously said the collision was not thought to be a deliberate act.
An eight-year-old girl was also injured in the incident. Part of the metal fencing on the all-weather pitch perimeter, near to a parking bay, was flattened by the vehicle. On Monday, the funeral of the avid Manchester United supporter took place in her home town of Kendal.
Hundreds lined the streets, many dressed in red at the family’s request, to pay their respects. Her two uncles, who have raised almost £50,000 in her memory, urged well-wishers to wear red in her memory as it was the colour of her favourite team – Manchester United.
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.
Mourners formed a ‘guard of honour’ in the church grounds, where earlier four young boys wearing ‘Poppy’ football shirts were seen kicking a football around. Her service opened with the song ‘Get Back Up Again’ by Anna Kendrick from the Trolls movie
Following Poppy’s death, her family said the schoolgirl, who was in the under-12s team at Kendal United and also played at county level, was “100% determined to be a professional footballer”.
They added: “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.”