Family of five-year-old girl who died at Seaton reveal asthma as her cause of death

The family of a five-year-old girl who died in a suburban tragedy at Seaton has revealed the cause of her death was asthma.

• Hero teen details horror of little girl’s death

A five-year-old girl who died of a suspected asthma attack has been remembered as a “playful” and “happy” child.

The girl’s great uncle, Anthony Wanganeen, said her tragic death had rocked her large Indigenous family.

“We’re just in shock that she’s gone,” he said.

“There’s no way you’d expect a five-year-old girl to die of asthma.”

Mr Wanganeen said he believed the girl’s mother was out buying an inhaler for her daughter at the time of the attack.

The little girl’s great uncle, Anthony Wanganeen, has revealed how they believe she died from asthma. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

The girl had suffered from asthma for several years, her uncle said.

“She was just like any other little kid, playful and happy,” Mr Wanganeen said.

A police source said the girl’s death was not being treated as suspicious or domestic violence related at this stage.

However, police are awaiting the results of an autopsy which will determine the course of the investigation.

Emergency services scrambled to a Housing Trust property on Ballater Ave, Seaton just before 4pm on Wednesday after reports the girl was “unresponsive”.

Paramedics treated what authorities believed to be a cardiac arrest incident.

A 13-year-old boy, Jabar Stanikzai, called triple-0 upon coming across the commotion on his walk home from school.

Ambulance workers at the scene in Seaton. Picture: NINE NEWS

Western District CIB detectives, with the assistance of Major Crime officers, were involved in early investigations but there is not considered to be anything suspicious behind her death.

No arrests have been made.

It is understood the parents, who are not accused of any wrongdoing, are assisting with inquiries.

Police will also be preparing a report for the state coroner.

Major crime detectives are at the scene of an incident in Seaton. Picture: NINE NEWS

Premier Peter Malinauskas said his thoughts were with the girl’s parents.

“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare; the idea of losing a child, and I can’t begin to imagine what they’re going through, so I just feel for them,” he said.

The emergency sparked a major response to the property, near Tapleys Hill Rd and a short distance from the Royal Adelaide Golf Club, in the western suburbs.

At least four separate MedStar emergency responder teams were called to the address, but despite best efforts by paramedics, the five-year-old girl was unable to be saved.

Paramedics frantically treated the young girl at the scene before she was rushed to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

She died a short time later.

Major Crime detectives are on scene at Seaton and are investigating the death of a 5yo child. Picture: Keryn Stevens.

In a statement, a police spokesman said: “Just before 4.00pm … police and SA Ambulance Service were called to Ballater Ave, Seaton, in relation to an unresponsive five-year-old girl.

“The girl was initially treated at the scene before being transported to hospital, where despite the efforts of paramedics, she has sadly died.

“The matter is now subject to a coronial investigation. Police will remain at the scene for some time.”

Neighbour, Roy King, 71, said the street was shocked when it heard it was a young child.

“I just thought it was a traffic incident,” he said.

Mr King, who has lived on the street for 25 years with his wife and two sons, said he came home from work and saw the street was closed off at about 4.45pm.

Roy King, a neighbour said it’s not something you’d wish on someone, especially not a child.”

“It’s a shortcut between Tapleys Hill Rd and Findon Rd … it gets busy.”

Mr King said it was a sad time.

“It’s not something you’d wish on someone, especially not a child,” he said.

“It isn’t nice at all.”