Girl, 3, survives alone as mother dies

A three-year-old girl, left alone for two days after her mother died unexpectedly at their home, lived on cheese, leftover lasagna and milk, and comforted herself with her teddy bear.

The girl's uncle, Pete Silbery, said yesterday that the family last spoke to the mother, Lauren Silbery, right, on 19 October. Two days later, they were worried enough to call a friend who lived near the 28-year-old's home in home Wellington. The friend could see Ms Silbery's daughter, Shylah, inside but not the mother, prompting the family to call police. Shylah was coaxed into dragging a table to the door so she could reach the lock and open the door. She told police: "Mummy won't wake up."

"I can only imagine her in there for that long, trying to wake Mum up as well," Mr Silbery said. He said Shylah endured the two days alone by finding food in the fridge and holding her teddy bear, named "Possum".

Police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination but do not believe Ms Silbery's death was suspicious.