Toddler, 2, dies after being hauled by police from 'stolen' car found ditched in river

Kiara Moore would have celebrated her third birthday next Tuesday.

But she died at the University Hospital of Wales after being recovered from a silver Mini in the River Teifi in Cardigan.

On Monday afternoon, numerous Facebook posts claimed a silver Mini had been stolen from the town with a girl in it.

Dyfed-Powys Police said it received a call about a missing vehicle at 3.30pm and posted on its Twitter page that the Mini had been located at 5.11pm.

In a tweet in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the force said: "Sadly, we confirm that Kiara Moore, aged 2 (27/3/15) was pronounced dead at the UHW, Cardiff last night, having been recovered from a car in the River Teifi, Cardigan yesterday afternoon (March 19, 2018).

“Kiara's family is being supported by specialist officers."

Jet Moore, the girl's father, said in a Facebook post: "Thank you all for your help this evening. A mega thank you to the officers who jumped in the river and the rest of the emergency services for all they did. Unfortunately, Kiara had an amazing but short life."

Officers said they were continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident and appealed for witnesses who may have seen the vehicle enter the river between 3.30pm and 4.50pm on Monday to call 101, quoting incident 216 of 19/03/2018.

Police launched a two-hour search for the car after it was allegedly stolen in Carmarthenshire.

Kiara’ mother, Kim, also gave a desperate appeal for help finding her daughter.

She wrote on Facebook: “Can everyone look out for the car, it’s been stolen with my daughter in it. Please share!”

Her sister Nichola Rowlands added: "My sister’s car was stolen from Carmarthenshire with my niece inside, please share and get my niece home safe!”

A spokesman for Milford Haven Coastguard said coastguard teams and a lifeboat was sent to assist the police.