Brave five-year-old Sunderland girl Isla Wilkinson passes away in parents’ arms

The five-year-old, of Plains Farm, had taken ill on Tuesday, December 3, after coming down with a cough and a temperature and starting to be sick.

As her mum, Alexandra Williams, known as Alex, was set to take her to hospital, Isla had difficulty breathing and her heart stopped.

Alex – a former volunteer for St John’s Ambulance – performed CPR and Isla’s heart stopped for around 20 minutes as she was rushed to hospital.

Sadly, on the morning of Thursday, December 5, Isla’s brain started to swell and on Friday, December 6, the Farringdon Primary School pupil was given just hours to live.

Now her family have announced that little Isla passed away “peacefully and perfectly” at 5pm on Friday evening in the children’s Intensive Care Unit at the RVI in Newcastle in the arms of her parents.

Alex had painted Isla’s nails and plaited her hair as they prepared to say their final goodbyes.

A Go Fund Me Page was set up by family members when Isla became ill to help Alex organise the send-off her “beautiful princess” deserves, with any additional funds going to The Sick Children's Trust.

The page has currently raised more than £14,000.

In a post on the page, Isla’s aunt, Marcia Hogan-Williams said: “With the heaviest of hearts, we’d like everyone to know our beautiful Isla left this world at 5pm this evening so peacefully and perfectly, in the arms of her parents. Alex painted her nails and plaited her hair ready for the biggest most special hug as the amazing nurses at RVI finally let her go.

On behalf of my sister and all our family, we’re genuinely overwhelmed and so grateful for all of the donations and messages received. Please know the support since posting this page, at such a critical time, allowed us those final moments with her just that little bit less stressful. For that we are eternally grateful.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

To donate search for Little Isla on Go Fund Me.