Tragedy as two-year-old boy dies after ‘medical episode’ at Early Learners Day Nursery in Bootle, Merseyside

A two-year-old boy has died at a children’s nursery in what has been described as a “terrible tragedy”.

Having suffered a “fatal medical episode”, the toddler was taken to hospital by paramedics, where he was pronounced dead.

Police have opened an investigation to establish the circumstances of the child’s death on Tuesday.

Two bouquets of flowers were left outside the entrance to the Early Learners Day Nursery, in Bootle, Merseyside.

A sign on the door read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances the nursery is currently closed. A resident living in flats across the road said: “I saw quite a few police cars on the road outside. I didn’t know what had happened until today but it’s very sad. The nursery has been here quite a while and it’s well-regarded.”

Another said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the family involved.”

A message to parents from the nursery, which is rated “good” by Ofsted, said: “It is with devastating sadness that we have to inform you of a child’s passing. To enable everyone to process today’s tragic events, we have made the decision to close the nursery for the remainder of the week. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

The owners of the nursery were approached for comment. A Merseyside Police spokesman said an investigation was under way to establish the full circumstances after a boy, aged two, “suffered a fatal medical episode”, adding his death was “currently being treated as unexplained”.