Tragic Drowning of Autistic Girl, 7, at Golf Course After Facebook Childminder Referral
A seven-year-old non-verbal autistic girl drowned in a pond at a golf course in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, just hours after being dropped off with a childminder recommended through a Facebook group, according to a close family friend. Nyla May Bradshaw was discovered deceased in the water at Owston Hall Golf Course on Monday, following an extensive search and rescue operation that involved multiple emergency services.
Emergency Response and Heartbreaking Discovery
Witnesses reported a significant emergency presence at the scene, including a police helicopter circling overhead, drones, paramedics, and an air ambulance. The massive response was triggered after Nyla went missing from the childminder's care within two hours of her mother, Hayley Beardsley, leaving her for the first time at 7.45am that morning.
Charlotte Emma, the best friend of Nyla's mother, disclosed to Metro that the family had resorted to using a new childminder found via Facebook because their regular carer was fully booked over the Easter holidays. "A lot of us blame ourselves because Hailey doesn’t usually leave her with anybody, she goes to a special school," Ms Emma stated. "But the school holidays have come up and her mum was desperate for a child minder. She'd asked a Facebook group if anybody knew of any in the area."
Family's Devastation and Tribute to Their Daughter
Nyla's parents, Hayley Beardsley and Kieran Bradshaw, shared an emotional tribute to their beloved daughter on social media. "It breaks my heart to write this, but today we lost our beautiful daughter Nyla May Bradshaw at just 7 years old," Ms Beardsley wrote. "She was our whole world full of love, laughter, and the brightest smile that could light up any room. She brought so much joy into our lives and into the lives of everyone who knew her."
Mr Bradshaw described Nyla as his "best friend" and an "amazing daughter," adding, "You were so loved Nyla you touched everyone's heart that ever met you. I'll never ever go a moment without you in my thoughts." Ms Emma further expressed, "She was my best friend’s daughter – our beloved little girl. She was beautiful. Her mother only wants her memory to live on and for everyone see how happy she really was."
Safety Concerns and Previous Precautions
Ms Emma revealed that Nyla was known as an "escape artist" and a "crafty devil," but emphasized she would "not go anywhere" if properly supervised. Due to her tendency to wander, the local council had installed a six-foot fence at the family's home to prevent her from leaving the garden, and electronic locks were fitted on the property after repeated escapes.
The golf course where the tragedy occurred spans approximately 80 acres and features water hazards as part of its design, highlighting the risks in the area.
Police Investigation and Community Support
South Yorkshire Police confirmed they responded to the incident on Monday, March 30, after receiving a report at 9.50am that a child had gone missing in the Skellow area of Doncaster. Officers deployed additional resources, including police drones and aircraft, during the search. "Following an extensive search, the child was located in a pond on Owston Hall golf course," a police spokesperson said. "Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services colleagues, they were pronounced deceased. The child's family has been informed and is being supported by our officers. The thoughts of everybody at SYP are with them at this devastating time."
In the wake of the tragedy, a neighbour who often cared for Nyla during school holidays donated £1,000 to a GoFundMe page set up to cover funeral costs, expressing heartbreak over not being available to look after the girl that day. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact them quoting incident number 198 of March 30.
