Sophie Firth was showing her nan her costume for a nursery play when it caught fire
Sophie Firth died after her dress suddenly caught fire
An child actress who played Angelica King died after suffering a terrible accident at home. Angelica, now played by Rebecca Bakes, returned to Emmerdale following her stint in detention at a secure children’s home for causing the death of Heath Hope a few months ago.
But in 2009, Sophie Firth played the role of Jimmy and Nicola King’s daughter Angelica in the ITV soap for three months before a freak accident. Sophie was at her grandmother’s home in South Yorkshire in December 2012 when her dress caught fire.
The little girl was due to play an angel in her nursery nativity the following week, but she was engulfed in flames as she proudly put the costume on to show her grandmother, the Mirror reports.
Her distraught family said she leaned over a gas fire and the bottom of her dress touched the flame and ignited instantly into a fireball.
While Sophie’s mum, Amy, tried to put out the flames with a blanket, 70% of Sophie’s body was covered in burns. After nine days at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sophie sadly died from a blood infection.
Her parents Neil and Amy released a statement at the time, announcing the loss of their “bright and beautiful” little girl. They added that they will “carry their little princess in their arms forever”.
A spokesperson for Emmerdale said at the time in a statement: “We are devastated to hear of Sophie’s tragic death.
“Our sincere condolences go out to her family. Everyone at Emmerdale is thinking of them at this sad time.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “This was a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends at this extremely distressing time.
Emmerdale baby Sophie Firth who played Angelica King with the actors who played her parents Jimmy and Nicola King
“Any fire can be dangerous. We would urge people to pay particular attention to the risk of fires in their home during the cold weather and as we approach the holiday season.”
Since Sophie’s death, her parents have been fundraising for charities in her honour, including The Children’s Hospital Charity – with their JustGiving page raising nearly £23,000.
They wrote on the page: “Anyone who ever met Sophie knows not only was she beautiful but she was exceptionally bright, loving and funny.
“Her family and friends miss her more than words can say; our anguish at the loss of such a young and promising life is too much to bear.
“Her mum Amy and Dad Neil cannot imagine life without Sophie. Sophie was three and a half (and the half mattered), just by being Sophie she said and did so many things that brought joy to our lives, she was at the centre of everything she did and the heart of the family.”