Kiara Moore: Mother of girl who died in car after it rolled into Welsh river blames her 'own stupidity'

A mother whose daughter died in a car after it rolled into a freezing river in Wales has blamed the tragedy on her “own stupidity”.

Kiara Moore’s mother, Kim Rowland, said she would “live with the guilt for the rest of my life” after the two-year-old died in hospital having been rescued from a silver Mini in the River Teifi.

In the since deleted Facebook post, she added: “Mummy loves you baby girl and I’m so sorry!”

Kiara’s parents initially feared the Mini had been stolen with her inside and posted pleas on social media appealing for help locating it.

The car was parked on a slipway outside their outdoor adventure business, Adventure Beyond, when it disappeared on Monday afternoon.

But a two-hour search by police, firefighters and the coastguard revealed the car was in the river close by.

Jet Moore, Kiara’s father, explained on Facebook that Ms Rowland and his daughter initially “got into the car to go home”.

“Sat on a bank card and needed money to get home etc,” he wrote. “Went back to the office to get money from the desk and came back to no car. Looked in the river. No signs. So we thought she and the car had been taken.”

“The police found the car a while later and went way beyond the call of duty jumping in and pulling her out. They tried to revive her for hours but unfortunately could not. Everyone done their best.”

Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death of the “happy” and “smiley” girl.

Kiara, who would have celebrated her third birthday next Tuesday, was airlifted to University Hospital Wales where she was later pronounced dead.

Paying tribute to her, Mr Moore wrote: “She was an incredible happy young girl who lived I hope a great adventurous fun life. And may have done more than most.

“Had a loving family and made us all happy. She always wanted to be called RAR RAR which was our nickname for her. Love her so much.”

Flowers and cards were left near the old Scout Hall on the Strand.

Next to the building, on a slipway that leads to the river, Grace Hills, 32, and her one-year-old son Parker placed a bunch of flowers, a pink heart helium balloon and a card.

Ms Hills said she worked at a baby and toddler group in Dre-Fach Felindre that Kiara attended, and the card was one her son had made while painting with her.

“She is going to be missed,” Ms Hills said. “She was a lovely little smiley girl, always happy.”

Noel Lewis, who owns the Pioneer Garage on the other side of the slipway, said he knew Mr Moore and would see him there as well as Kiara and her mother.

He said he often saw a silver Mini parked on the slipway. Of the slipway, he said: “It’s concrete, about four or five foot, going down into the river bed, which is quite deep, so if the Mini rolled back then the poor little girl didn’t stand a chance.”

He said he knew the family to say hello to, and added: “It’s awful.”

Speaking to the BBC, he said: “Kiara was the most wonderful little girl... They’re a lovely family, always smiling and having fun together.”

Additional reporting by PA