THE mother of a three-year-old girl who was tragically killed in a playground accident is planning a community fun day to raise awareness of child safety.
Catrina McCraw said her family had been "completely devastated" by her daughter Charly's death.
She accidentally hanged herself on a rope while playing on a climbing frame just yards from her home in Kirkliston. It is thought other children had put the rope up as a makeshift swing.
Now Mrs McCraw, 26, of Maitlands Hog Lane, says she wants to do something positive to mark the anniversary of Charly's death and help prevent a similar tragedy.
She has asked local community groups and councillors for their support raising money for Cruse, a charity that provides bereavement counselling.
She said: "If I could just help save one other child then it would be worthwhile. We don't want any other family to go through this nightmare.
"I want to raise awareness. You just don't know what danger your child is in. So many wee kids have died in similar accidents.
"I want to give something back to the community. Everybody was so great last year to me and my family. I can't fault the support they have given me."
Charly had been a pupil at Kirkliston Nursery School. She left a brother Jayme, now aged seven, and father Charles, a full-time carer.
Neighbours found Charly hanging from the climbing frame on May 1 last year. They desperately tried to resuscitate her before paramedics arrived, but she was pronounced dead when she arrived at hospital.
Mrs McCraw said: "She told me that day she was going to the park. You can see it from our sitting room window. It's so close we thought of it as our back garden. She could go on her own as there weren't any roads to cross.
"A neighbour came hammering on the door. She was found hanging there. The neighbour recognised her.
"She was dead for 20 minutes before she was found.
"It's broken all our hearts. It's completely devastated my family. It took a long time for me to accept it. I kept expecting Charly to come through the door.
"She was just perfect. She was our little angel. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was very fun-loving, and loved playing outside. She was a total princess."
Mrs McGraw has organised the event at Kirkliston Masonic Hall for Saturday, April 19, about a fortnight before the anniversary of Charly's death. She is putting up posters with pictures of her daughter in the neighbourhood.
There will be a coffee morning and sale, followed by a children's disco, magic show and other activities in the afternoon.
In the evening there will be a disco and buffet for adults, and Mrs McCraw will also provide information about child safety.
The playground was removed last year following the accident. Edinburgh City Council said it had recently passed a safety inspection, but they decided to remove it after discussions with the local community out of consideration for the McCraw family. The council is planning to build a new one at another location nearby.
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Edinburgh City Council website•
www.crusescotland.org.ukThe full article contains 542 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
