Young girl died instantly in farm accident in Cork

A young girl who was killed in a freak farm accident suffered fatal blunt force trauma to her spine and would have died instantly.

The harrowing details emerged yesterday as an inquest into the death on September 28 last of Paula Dinsberga, aged eight, on a farm in Newtownshandrum, outside Charleville in Co Cork, was opened in Mallow.

Details of identification and cause of death were heard but coroner for North Cork, Dr Michael Kennedy, adjourned proceedings pending the completion of a Health and Safety Authority probe.

Paula, from Dooradoyle in Co Limerick, was staying with family friends on their rented farm while her parents, Linda and Raivo, attended a family wedding in their native Latvia.

It was reported at the time that Paula and her friend, Keriga Pliesnanis, 11, ran in front of a tractor which was being driven by Keriga’s father, Edgar, who slammed on the brakes at around 6.30pm.

The tractor bucket apparently fell and crushed the girls, pinning them to the ground. Keriga suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to Cork University Hospital. Paula was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardaí had to break the news to her parents when their flight landed at Dublin Airport around midnight.