Twelve-year-old girl found dead after apparent suicide

A 12-year-old girl has been found dead, having apparently hanged herself in the bathroom of her family home.

A 12-year-old girl has been found dead, having apparently hanged herself in the bathroom of her family home.

The girl, who has not been named, was treated by ambulance crews after she was discovered at the property in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

She was taken to hospital where staff attempted to resuscitate her but she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police said that they were not treating the death as suspicious and a file was being prepared for the coroner. No reason has been given for why she might have killed herself.

The girl was found by her mother and her 14-year-old brother on Friday evening. Both attempted to resuscitate the girl and attempts to keep her alive were continued by paramedics who arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. She was taken to the University Hospital in North Staffordshire and was pronounced dead on arrival.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said yesterday: "At about 5.30pm on Friday the ambulance service attended an address in Marina Drive, Newcastle, where a 12-year-old girl was taken from the address to hospital.

"The staff at the hospital attempted to resuscitate the girl but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival."

Police later said that they could not confirm or deny reports that the girl's death had been the result of a possible suicide.

The police spokesman said that the circumstances of the girl's death remained under investigation. The spokesman added that as part of the investigation officers would be interviewing the girl's friends and family over the coming days. She is expected to be identified today.