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Undated family photo of Shylah Silbery, 3. AP Photo/courtesy of family via The New Zealand Herald

New Zealand toddler lives on leftovers for two days after mother dies

Three-year-old Shylah Silbery managed to open the fridge to feed herself after she was unable to wake her mother at their Wellington home.

A 3-YEAR-OLD girl comforted herself with her favourite toy and ate cheese, leftover lasagna and milk for two days after her mother died unexpectedly in their New Zealand home.

The girl’s uncle, Pete Silbery, told The Associated Press today that Shylah Silbery managed to open the fridge and comfort herself with a teddy bear named “Possum” after Lauren Silbery, 28, died.

The family last spoke to Lauren Silbery on 19 October, he said. Two days later, they were worried enough to call a friend who lived near her Wellington home. The friend could see the girl inside the home, but not the mother, prompting the family to call police, Pete Silbery said.

Police coaxed Shylah to drag a coffee table to the door so she could reach the lock and unlock the door, before she told them, “Mummy won’t wake up,” Silbery said.

“I can only imagine her in there for that long, trying to wake Mum up as well,” he said.

Shylah spent several days in a hospital recovering from dehydration and diaper rash.

“She’s doing OK now. She’s still bubbly,” he said. “When we lowered the coffin into the grave at the cemetery, though, she pointed at it and said ‘Mummy’s in there.’ It was pretty heartbreaking.”

Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy but don’t believe Lauren Silbery’s death was suspicious, Wellington police spokesman Victoria Davis said.

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 4:34 PM

    The sad result of selling below cost,taxpayer subsidised, alcohol the the Pariamentary bar. Better introduce minimum pricing in the Dail bars before the problem spreads to here. If not we might see ministers driving on the wrong way down motorways; or worse still TD’s ranting and roaring in the House!!

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    Mute Danny Kelly
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 4:39 PM

    I can tell you from experience that the bar in the Commons is the same price (and decor) as in any other pub in England, and that this unfortunately is not the worst thing that has ever happened there…

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    Mute Gerard Murphy
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 5:25 PM

    So you are saying Danny that the beer in the commons bar is dirt cheap?

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 11:01 PM

    You assume he was drunk. You don’t need to be drunk to hit a Tory MP.

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Feb 24th 2012, 9:05 AM

    John, yes I did assume he was drunk. The clue was in the fact that he also managed to thump a Labour MP!

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    Mute Noel Carroll
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 3:50 PM

    Surely he’s now the dishonourable member for Falkirk ;)

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    Mute Aleo
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 5:12 PM

    Shouldn’t there be room for a naughty step at the Palace of Westminster?

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    Mute Bryan Holmes
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    Feb 23rd 2012, 7:30 PM

    Maybe Joyce & Frank Fahey could go 3 rounds in a Commons v Dail heavyweight championship ?

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