A five-year-old girl was killed by a vintage truck as she ran towards a helter skelter at a steam rally, an inquest heard today.
Tayla Saunders was knocked down and pinned under the wheels of an old-fashioned military Land Rover as it reversed in a field.
The youngster was with her foster parents who had lost sight of her for just a few seconds at the Lanlivery Vintage Rally near Lostwithiel.
Tayla, a cystic fibrosis sufferer, was hit and suffered horrific injuries as she stopped to stare up excitedly at the helter skelter.
Paramedics were standing just yards away and began treating the little girl within a minute, an inquest was told.
Tayla, from Honiton, Devon, was airlifted to hospital but died shortly after the accident on September 8 last year.
In a statement read to the inquest, Tayla's former foster parent Carole Thorne told how she lost sight of the little girl as she ran toward the fair's entrance.
She said: "In her excitement Tayla ran into the field entrance, she was out of my sight for five to ten seconds and I heard a beeping noise.
"The next time I saw Tayla she rolled out from under a truck. I saw she had an injury to her head and I saw someone say to the driver that he had just hit a little girl.
"As a consequence of Tayla's death, I have been left feeling empty. I don't want to meet people anymore and it is an effort to go to the shops.
"This was a tragic accident and I do not blame the driver in any way. I am sorry for the trauma this has caused him."
Eyewitness Margaret Dodson told the hearing in Plymouth, Devon, she was having a cup of tea when she saw Tayla getting hit.
Ms Dodson said: "I looked up and saw this man walking to his vehicle, when he went to get in he looked around.
"I looked back down at my tea and when I looked up again I saw this little girl, she just stopped - she looked up at the Helter Skelter.
"The truck nudged her in the back and it must of winded her because she went down.
"In that split second it went over her and then it stopped. People said to the driver he had hit a little girl so he got out."
Coroner Ian Arrow agreed that Tayla's death was indeed a tragic accident.
He said: "Her attention was drawn to the helter skelter and I am satisfied she was looking at it at the time."
He added his condolences to the family, saying: "I would like to thank everyone who contributed and came here today.
"I am very sorry for your loss and very sorry Tayla died in this way."
He recorded a verdict of accidental death.
The Lanlivery Vintage Rally, Steam Fair and Country Fair is held on the second weekend of September each year and raises money for local charities including the Cornwall Air Ambulance.
For over 25 years the rally has hosted a variety of country events including a large entry of vintage machinery and cars, rollers and traction engines.
Attractions include beer tents, ploughing, archery, clay pigeon shooting and fairground rides.
