A father whose daughter died after he dropped a television on her head on Christmas Eve has paid tribute to his “bright and clever girl” after an inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Emily Hughes, 4, died from a “catastrophic brain injury” after her father, Robert, stumbled into her as he carried the television downstairs.

The “heavy, deep, bulky” television landed on her head, pinning her to the ground. Mr Hughes and his wife, Louise, tried to resuscitate her until paramedics arrived in the early evening. She was certified dead at 10.20pm on Christmas Day.

In a statement issued outside their home in Coedpoeth, Wrexham, the family said that their daughter would never be forgotten.

They said: “Emily was a bright, clever girl, well liked by everybody, caring and kind. She had a real talent for singing, and had done solos in the school concert just before Christmas. We will miss her, and will never forget her.”

Liverpool Coroner's Court was told yesterday that the family had spent Christmas Eve visiting friends and doing last-minute shopping, including buying a new television.

The accident happened after Mr Hughes had installed the new set and was carrying the old one downstairs to the children's play area. Emily liked to take the Nintendo DS she shared with her three siblings to a quiet place to play it alone, the court was told.

Her father was not aware that as he carried the television down the staircase Emily was lying near the foot of the stairs.

In a report by North Wales Police, officers said that Mr Hughes accidentally bumped into Emily. It said: “Mr Hughes stubbed his foot on the child and fell forward with the large television unit. He completely lost balance, fell and tried to push the TV away from the child, realising she was there, but it landed on her head, pinning her. He immediately got it off her.”

Mr Hughes carried Emily into the kitchen where his wife phoned an ambulance. She was first taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital then transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool later that evening suffering from a lack of blood and oxygen to the brain. A consultant, Jane Ratcliffe, said that Emily also sustained a head fracture in the accident.

Emily was the youngest of four children, and went to Penygelli School and to the Salvation Army Sunday School in Coedpoeth, which family members have attended for many years. Her father is a design engineer and her mother a youth worker.

Andre Rebello, the Liverpool Coroner, said: “This was a tragic accident and this will always be a difficult time in the future with every Christmas. It is every parent's worst nightmare for their child's funeral to take place before their own.

“I hope the family can recover from this tragedy and celebrate the joy of Emily's life. Emily will not have suffered and not have known about this injury. I pass on my sincere condolences to the family.”

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said: “As a result of a very sad and tragic accident on Christmas Eve, reported to police at 6.20pm, a four-year-old girl from the Coedpoeth area of Wrexham passed away at Alder Hey Children's Hospital on Christmas Day.

“The family are understandably very distraught by this tragic accident and police are making a plea for the privacy of the family to be respected at this incredibly difficult time.”

The family statement added: “We'd like to thank everyone for their support, including phone calls from around the world, flowers and cards. The funeral, on a date to be arranged, will be a celebration of her life.”

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