Sophia Kelemen, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, was tragically killed after the pram she was sitting in was hit by a vehicle in a multi-storey car park in Cardiff
The family of a ‘smiley and bubbly’ baby girl who was killed after the pram she was sitting in was struck by a car in a multi-storey car park have paid an emotional tribute to her.
Little Sophia Kelemen, from Leigh, died following the collision on the ground floor of the car park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, last Thursday (January 2). She was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff with severe brain injuries but died a day later.
Her auntie, Adriana Kelemen, sister to Sophia’s dad Alex, has paid tribute to the youngster, who had just celebrated her first Christmas and was on a holiday with her family, including her mum Betty and older brother, aged five, in south Wales at the time of the incident.
“They were on a getaway in Wales with family friends. It was their last day and they had been out and then went to the supermarket,” said Adriana “It happened in the car park. The pram that she [Sophia] was in was left in the worst condition. She was airlifted to hospital due to the severity of her injuries and needed treatment as soon as possible.
“They were told she had suffered a bleed on her brain and she was shortly after diagnosed with brain damage. Overnight she had to have surgery. The following day we tried to drive down to Cardiff, but by the time myself and my sister arrived she had already died.”
Adriana, who grew up in Romania and moved to the UK in 2015, said. “We had just been together at Christmas. Sophia hardly ever cried. She was so smiley and bubbly. We used to say she was so advanced for her age. She really wanted to walk, and was really excited, playful and energetic. She was the cutest and most adorable girl, who had just started babbling. It’s horrible we didn’t get the chance to see her grow up or make memories with her.”
One of the last photos of the family together including Sophia was taken on their trip to Wales. Sophia’s father Alex now wants to bring her back to Romania. “We are all originally from Romania. Sophia was born here and lived in Leigh, but for closure my brother has decided to bury her there because of our roots,” she told the Manchester Evening News.
“They haven’t asked anyone for help. Nothing will bring her back, but I have decided to do this to try and help. They’re trying to grieve and mourn the loss of their child while taking care of her brother, who has seen everything. This isn’t something anyone can prepare for or foresee.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money to pay for Sophia’s funeral and repatriation flight to bury her in Romania. It reads: “Never in a million years would I have thought I would have to write a post like this. My name is Adriana, the auntie of my beloved niece Sophia.
“A seemingly ordinary day turned into our family’s worst nightmare. The baby was airlifted to the hospital with a broken pelvis and a brain bleed and was ultimately diagnosed with brain damage due to the impact. Despite the efforts of the doctors, Sophia could not cope with the impact, the surgery, anaesthesia, the brain bleed and all the injuries were too much for her fragile heart, which eventually gave out.”
Flaviu Naghi, 33, of Irvine Street, Leigh, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance, faced magistrates on Saturday and will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on February 7. A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys police said: “Sadly, we can confirm that a six-month-old baby girl has died following a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby on January 2.
“Sophia Kelemen, from the Leigh, Manchester area, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries on January 3. Our thoughts remain with her family at this difficult time. They are being supported by specially trained officers. Flaviu Naghi, aged 33, from Wigan, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a license and without insurance.
“He appeared at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 4, where he was further remanded to appear before Swansea Crown Court on February 7. He was also arrested on suspicion of drink driving and drug driving and has been released on bail for these offences. This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation. We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances.”
