Little Grace Agnes Kenyon lost consciousness and died in her parents’ arms last Saturday
Gemma Ryder Reporter and Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network
09:31, 01 May 2026Updated 09:32, 01 May 2026
The family of a ‘happy’ and ‘special’ little girl say they are ‘absolutely shattered’ after the tot died in their arms.
Little Grace Agnes Kenyon, from Winchburgh in West Lothian, Scotland, had been enjoying an afternoon out in the garden with her big sister, Charlotte, seven, and her parents last Saturday when tragedy struck.
The tot, who was just days away from turning two, started gagging, her mum Carly said. Moments later, she lost consciousness and while her parents desperately tried to resuscitate her, sadly Grace passed away, reports The Record.
Carly told the publication the family has been completely devastated by her sudden and unexpected death.
She told the Record the family are struggling to comprehend how a joyful afternoon in the sun turned into their worst nightmare so quickly.
The 31-year-old said: “It was just a regular day and Grace was enjoying being out in the garden after she woke up from her nap.
“She was chatting away, laughing, trying to copy her dad and sister doing gymnastics.
“I’ll never be able to get that image out of my head now that I have to live with how quickly it all changed.
“We have just been living in a blur since then. We’re absolutely shattered.”
The family say they are ‘shattered’ by the horrific tragedy
Grace had difficulties with swallowing since birth and lived with a feeding tube. Medics suspected she had a rare condition in her throat called Glossopharyngeal Palsy, but she was waiting for a formal diagnosis.
When the tot began to gag, the family initially thought it may have been something they had seen before – a brief reflex they expected to pass.
When her condition did not improve despite attempts to clear her mouth, her father Nick called 999.
But within seconds, Grace was gone.
Carly continued: “It wasn’t clear what was happening but then she started making this awful noise.
The tot had difficulty swallowing since birth(Image: Handout)
“I was hitting her back as she sat on my knee and then she began struggling to breathe.
“We began doing CPR immediately, but I could just see she was already gone.
“Myself and Nick tried to help her for ten minutes before paramedics arrived. Poor Charlotte watched this all unfold in front of her.
“It was just horrific. There are no words to explain watching your child pass away in front of your eyes.”
The cause of Grace’s death has not yet been determined and a post-mortem examination is scheduled for May 16.
Grace with her parents(Image: Handout)
Her family say they have been told there was no visible obstruction in her airway and have been informed that the examination may not provide a conclusive answer.
Paying tribute to her “special girl” Carla added: “Grace was happy and determined and she never let anything hold her back.
“She was a special little girl. She lit up every room she walked in and she made everyone’s heart melt with her infectious smile.
“It seems so cruel that life was ripped away from her so suddenly.
“She was only here for a short time but she made such an impact.”
A fundraiser has been set up for Grace by friends and the community.
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