The dad of an 11-year-old girl who died suddenly in her sleep says she went to bed “normally” - but never woke up. Steve Pritchard, 43, says Matilda, had been a “healthy” child and showed no signs of illness, but on the morning of April 3, 2024, Steve and his wife, Anna, 43, discovered Matilda had suffered a cardiac arrest in her sleep.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead on arrival at Leeds General Infirmary. Now, the family, including Matilda’s 14-year-old sister, Olivia, is working to honour her “last wish” - to “rid the world of litter.” READ MORE: First picture of boy fighting for life after horror M6 crash that killed his mum and four others Steve, a company director, from Pudsey, Leeds, said: “As any child would do, Matilda went up to bed and just never woke up.
It’s been catastrophically terrible - but I’m hoping we can start the process of our little girl’s dream, of a world without litter.” Matilda was an animal lover and passionate about the environment.
She loved litter-picking around Pudsey Park, and was given a Blue Peter Green Badge in early 2024 for showing she cared about nature, the environment, and sustainability. “The news was always difficult for Matilda,” Steve said. “Especially with global events, like bushfires.