The father of the UK's ninth Strep A victim today thanked people for their 'prayers, thoughts, feelings and love' after his 'princess' died from the bug that is sweeping the country.
Stella-Lily McCorkindale, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, developed a life-threatening complication to the usually-harmless bug. She was hospitalised last week and died on Monday.
Her father Robert said if well wishes had worked, his five-year-old daughter would have 'walked out of that hospital holding her daddy's hand'.
Pupils at her school have already been offered antibiotics as part of a drive to stop other kids becoming ill. Entire year groups in schools battling outbreaks are being recommended the drugs.