Baby who died from head injuries was everyone’s ray of sunshine, says mother

A 14-month-old baby who died after being taken to hospital with head injuries has been described by her mother as “everyone’s ray of sunshine”.

Hollie Ashurst died in Wigan on Friday despite the best efforts of hospital staff, Greater Manchester Police said.

Daniel Ashurst, 32, from Wigan, has since been charged with her murder and remanded in custody to appear before Wigan Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

In a tribute released by the force, her mother said: “Hollie was my dream come true.

“She was such a bright, smiley, happy little girl and was everyone’s ray of sunshine.

“Hollie brightened everyone’s day and was an inspiration and never unhappy.

“Fly high my princess with your other loved ones and sweet dreams my baby girl, I will always love you.”

Her aunts, granddad and uncle also described Hollie as “always smiling”, and said she loved watching the popular children’s shows Mr Tumble and In The Night Garden.

“She has been through operations with her clef, but she never let anything bother her. Hollie was the happiest baby,” they added.

In their joint tribute, they described her as clever and alert, and said that she had just started to crawl.

Officers were alerted by medical staff on Thursday at around 2pm that a child was being taken to hospital with head injuries, GMP said.

A post-mortem on Monday confirmed Hollie died of head injuries, the force added.