Mum 'so sorry' for girl's death in River Teifi, Cardigan Published duration 20 March 2018

media caption Tributes paid to two-year-old Kiara Moore

The mother of a two-year-old girl who died after she was pulled from a car found in a river has said she will feel guilt for the rest of her life.

Kiara Moore was found in the River Teifi in Cardigan, Ceredigion, after she had been left in the car while it was parked on a slipway on Monday.

Her father said when the driver returned, the car was missing and initially feared stolen.

But after a large police search the car was found in the water.

image copyright Wales news service image caption The slipway where the car was parked

In a Facebook post, which has since been deleted, her mother Kim Rowlands said her "beautiful baby girl" had died, adding: "Due to my own stupidity, I will have to live with the guilt of this for the rest of my life.

"Mummy loves you baby girl and I'm so sorry."

Dyfed-Powys Police said it was not looking for anybody else in connection with its investigation.

Officers had been called at about 15:30 GMT on Monday after Kiara's parents initially thought their silver Mini had been stolen with their daughter still inside.

It had been parked on a slipway outside their outdoor pursuits business, Adventure Beyond, while the driver of the car popped into the office to get some money.

Social media posts were then made by Ms Rowlands appealing for information and a two-hour search was conducted by police, firefighters and coastguard rescue teams.

The car was later found in the river with Kiara inside.

image copyright @Iglwy/Twitter image caption Coastguard rescue teams and the RNLI searched the River Teifi

She was pulled out by police and airlifted to hospital but officers confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday that she had died. The little girl would have celebrated her third birthday next Tuesday.

In a Facebook post, her father Jet Moore, tried to explain what had happened.

"They got into the car to go home. Sat on bank card and needed money to get home etc," he wrote.

"Went back to the office to get money from the desk and came back to no car.

"Looked in the river. No signs. So we thought she and the car had been taken."

He said the police who found the car "went way beyond the call of duty jumping in and pulling her out".

"They tried to revive her for hours but unfortunately could not," he added in the post which has since been deleted.

In a tribute to his daughter he wrote: "Unfortunately Kiara had an amazing but short life.

"She was an incredible happy young girl who lived I hope a great adventurous fun life. And may have done more than most people."

image caption A tribute from Kiara's nursery Cylch Meithrin Drefach Felindre

"Been skiing twice and skied her self. Paddled the great glen Scotland. Paddles the Wye.

"Played on every beach we could. Had a loving family and made us all happy.

"She always wanted to be called RAR RAR which was our nickname for her. Love her so much."

image copyright @Iglwy/Twitter image caption Social media posts showed a large police presence in Cardigan near the castle on Monday afternoon

Dozens of people posted messages of condolence on Facebook to Kiara's parents.

Ola Kowlaow was passing by the scene when she said she saw a woman in distress.

"My son say 'mommy she's crying'," she said, adding she had asked what had happened.

"[The woman] said 'someone's kidnapped my kids [sic], my daughter in the car."

Ms Kowlaow said she had checked but had seen nothing, before the woman had "just run".

image caption Kiara was 'the most wonderful little girl' said neighbouring business owner Noel Lewis

Kiara's death has been described by local people as an "utter tragedy".

Noel Lewis said of the little girl: "Kiara was the most wonderful little girl. She was always playing out here with her little dog.

"Her parents run an outdoor adventure business the other side of the slipway.

"I'd often see them taking Kiara out on the river in a canoe. She always had a life jacket on when she was in the canoe with them.

"They're a lovely family, always smiling and having fun together."

The coroner has been informed of her death.

image caption There were 30 emergency service personnel including police, fire and coastguard in Cardigan town during the search