Death of preschooler unexplained

A father found his preschoolaged daughter inside a running washing machine as he searched the family home 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 Hoon Hay about 5pm on Friday. An injured child was taken to hospital where they later died.

The Press understands the girl was found in a front-loading washing machine, which 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.

The preschooler’s father noticed he had not seen her playing with the other children 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 were granted a non-publication 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.

‘‘Many people still have vivid recollections of the Nia Glassie abuse case that involved a clothes dryer and a washing line (among other forms of abuse) and publication ... [of the girl’s name] will cause some members of the public to form an associated but false opinion in this case,’’ he said.