Preschooler’s death under investigation

A father found his preschool-aged daughter inside a running washing machine after noticing she had not been playing with her siblings for about 10 minutes.

Emergency services were called to an incident at a home in the Christchurch suburb of Hoon Hay about 5pm on Friday.

The girl was injured and taken to hospital where she later died.

Stuff understands the girl was found in a front-loading washing machine that had been turned on.

A police spokeswoman earlier said the incident was not suspicious. However, Deputy Chief Coroner Anna Tutton said in a minute issued on Wednesday that police had advised the death was being treated as suspicious. Police have since clarified the death is being treated as unexplained.

According to the minute, the girl was at home with her siblings, all school-aged. Her father noticed he had not seen her playing with the others for about 10 minutes, and she was found inside the family washing machine.

Attempts were made to resuscitate the young girl, and she was taken to hospital where she died on Saturday. Her death was reported to the coroner.

‘‘The police investigation into [the child’s] death is at a very early stage. The investigation will include consideration and determination as to whether the death was suspicious or accidental,’’ the coroner said.

The coroner’s minute came after the girl’s family sought a nonpublication order for her name and identifying information.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Worner told the coroner the family were concerned they would be subjected to online harassment if the girl’s name was published.

The coroner said she took into account the possibility that if any of the girl’s relations were charged over her death, they may wish to seek name suppression and that would be ‘‘rendered nugatory’’ if her name had been published.

The coroner also considered the fact the girl’s siblings were with her when, or shortly before, she got into the washing machine. Their involvement, if any, was unknown at this point.

Warnings have previously been issued regarding children and front-loading washing machines.

In 2019, a 3-year-old boy died inside a front-loading machine in Orlando, Florida, after climbing into it while playing. Police at the time believed the door was closed, which created an airtight seal inside the drum, and the boy died from a lack of oxygen.

In 2017, two twins died in Delhi, India, after climbing into an open machine during the ‘‘six minutes’’ their mother was outside buying detergent.