Police work to formally identify man and girl after double death tragedy

The six-year-old girl and a 44-year-old man were found in a house in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight yesterday morning.

The girl was found unconscious alongside the man’s body and two dead dogs, Hampshire Police said.

She was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Newport but died a short time later.

A Hampshire Police spokeswoman said officers were called to a property in Cromwell Avenue in East Cowes, across the River Medina from Cowes on the northern, Solent coast side of the island, shortly after 10am.

She added: “On arrival officers found the body of a 44-year-old man.

“A six-year-old girl was found unconscious and was taken to St Mary’s Hospital. She died a short time later.

“The bodies of two dogs were also found within the address.

“At this stage police are treating this as an isolated incident and we would like to reassure the community that there is no wider risk.”

Efforts to formally identify the dead girl and man are ongoing and officers will remain at the crime scene overnight, she said.

Police said they wished to thank residents for their patience. They added in a statement: ‘Formal identification procedures are ongoing and we will not be in a position to confirm the names of the deceased until these are complete.

‘Specialist officers are supporting the family.’