A toddler was killed when her own father drove into her in an accident outside Nottingham Arena.
Evelyn Maria Celgy was dropped off in Bolero Square by dad Celgy Thomas, who was taking his family to a religious conference at the venue.
As he pulled away in his Nissan Qashqai, Mr Thomas lost sight of the two-year-old and knocked her over.
She suffered a severe head injury and died later at the Queen’s Medical Centre.
At an inquest into her death, Nottinghamshire Coroner Mairin Casey said it had been one of the most tragic cases she had ever dealt with.
Mr Thomas broke down in tears as his statement was read out in court, describing how he had driven his wife and three children to the arena in Nottingham from their home in Cheshire the morning of Saturday, July 11.
Dad Celgy Thomas, left, said the accident had caused “complete devastation”
He helped his wife get Evelyn and her two young brothers out of the car, then got back in to drive off.
The height of the car meant he couldn’t see Evelyn, who was just 92cm tall, but he believed she was still stood close to her mother.
He said: “I’d only moved forwards a short distance when I heard my wife scream.
“I got out and walked around, and to my horror I could see Evelyn was lying about six feet away. “
He described feeling “total shock and disbelief”, as he tried to revive her.
The site of the tragedy outside Nottingham Arena
A doctor who happened to be close by tried to help, and an ambulance was called, but Evelyn died at the Queen’s Medical Centre.
Police collision investigators examined the scene and found the incident had been caught on CCTV.
Officers said Mr Thomas’ speed had been “exceptionally slow” and that there was nothing he could have done to prevent the accident, which the coroner said was down to a moment of chance.
In a statement, Mr Thomas added: “I can’t put in to words the complete devastation that I, my wife and children, family and friends are feeling.
“Our lives will never be the same.
“Evelyn was much loved and will be so sadly missed.”
Tributes left at the scene
After the accident, dozens of floral tributes were left at the scene by strangers touched by the tragedy, and thousands of messages of support were posted online.
Saying there was nothing that he could have done to prevent the accident, Ms Casey told Mr Thomas: “This is one of the most tragic cases that I in my time as coroner have seen.”
