A HEARTBROKEN family has paid tribute and thanked the community after a search for a missing 5-year-old girl ended in tragedy.
Five-year-old Letti Cole was found dead in a body of water in Badsey last week (July 29) following a police search.
Alongside the police, the Badsey community came out in force to help join in the search for the child, described by her family as ‘our most precious angel’.
Hayley Cole, Letti’s aunt, said: “On Wednesday evening, we lost our most precious angel in the most tragic circumstances. Our family is completely heartbroken, devastated, and still in shock. No family should ever have to go through such an unimaginable loss.
“The kindness, compassion, and support shown by the people of Badsey has restored my faith in humanity. I want to thank every single person who gave up their time and made every effort to help look for our beautiful Letti. Your love and support will never be forgotten.”
Mrs Cole and her husband live in Buckingham and were not too familiar with Badsey, but someone came forward on Facebook and suggested they made a page to donate to a memorial for Letti.
So far, £7,000 has been raised to create a memorial to Letti.
Mrs Cole said: “I thought perhaps people would donate a few hundred, but I never expected anything like this.
“These are people we don’t even know.
“I mean Badsey Butchers; as soon as I set it up, they donated £1,000.
“We are in complete shock at everyone’s kindness and grateful to everyone who gave up their time to help in the search.
“There is a memorial set up at Badsey Church, which is beautiful. Badsey is an amazing village.”
Letti’s family has since thanked everyone who helped in the search for the five-year-old.
To learn more, or to donate, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/letti-g7pcw?attribution_id=sl:572621d4-91cc-4a97-831c-d30335fc57e0&lang=en_GB&ts=1785705797&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp30-treatment-8&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook
Posting on the GoFundMe, Mrs Cole added: “Please don’t feel under any obligation to donate. Your love, prayers, and support have already meant the world to our family.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
West Mercia Police has urged the public to avoid speculation online and said there was no third-party involvement in Letti’s death.
On Thursday (July 30), a spokesperson for the force said: “Sadly, the child was found unresponsive in a body of water, and a short time later was pronounced dead.
“There is no third-party involvement in the child’s death, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
“This is an incredibly tragic incident. We ask the public to avoid speculation online as this is incredibly distressing to the family, and we ask that their privacy is respected at such a difficult time.”
