Girl, 5, chokes to death on burst balloon despite frantic efforts of her mother

The parents of Lily Breen found her lifeless body in her bedroom and attempted to resuscitate her, but her brain had been fatally starved of oxygen.

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Lily was autistic and loved to touch and taste things, her parents said yesterday.

They believe she may she have bitten into the inflated balloon and when it popped, it was forced into her throat.

Moments earlier, her father Ian had given Lily a bath and washed her hair.

He said: "She did not like having her hair brushed so I was telling her that she was daddy's beautiful girl.

"A few minutes later I was in the shower when my wife shouted that there was something wrong with Lily."

Her mother Angela, a registered nurse who had given up work to care for her, desperately tried to save her before two ambulances and a doctor arrived.

The balloon was found in the youngster's windpipe.

Mr Breen, 37, said: "Angela fought to save her but it was too late.

"Doctors said it was likely that she died instantaneously - thank God she didn't suffer.

"She was our special girl and I feel lost without her. To lose someone like that is awful."

Lily had three brothers, Aarron, 23, Liam, 19, and 11-year-old Aidan, who was at home when his sister died.

The family have felt unable to return to their home in Desborough, Northamptonshire, since last week's tragedy and have been staying with Mrs Breen's mother in nearby Kettering.

The family paid tribute to Kingsley School in Kettering, where Lily was a pupil, and said the teachers there had brought her out of herself. Mr Breen, a lorry driver, said: "The staff are like magicians - they bring children back and give you back what you feel you've been robbed of.

"We also had a carer, Denise Tenney, who would come and give us respite care. She was wonderful.

"Lily was at the high end of the autism spectrum and I believe in the end, that is what killed her. She didn't have any sense of danger like other children do."

Mr Breen said they had been lucky to have Lily at all, because her birth was complicated.

"We were so happy to have a little girl because we'd always wanted one," he said.

Disney songs will be played at Lily's funeral in Kettering on Monday.

Kingsley School is planning to plant a garden of lilies in her memory.