THE GRANDFATHER of a baby who died of malnutrition has spoken of his family’s grief after losing their “little princess”.

Lily-Flo Smith-Avery, of The Lees, Canvey, struggled to keep down food during her difficult 14-month life, because of a range of complex medical conditions.

When she died, on February, 27, 2011, she weighed just 11lbs 11oz, almost half what a child of her size and age would have been expected to weigh. She was born at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital,London, and after coming home was regularly rushed to Southend Hospital by parents Kylie Smith and Toby Avery, both 25.

Lily-Flo was born with a heart defect and underwent surgery when she was just two days old.

She also had a rare chromosome disorder which meant she had difficulty swallowing and often choked when she was fed.

Staff at Southend Hospital inserted a gastric nasal feeding tube, but Lily-Flo’s weight continued to fluctuate.

Grandfather Perry Smith, 48, from Billericay, said: “Lily-Flo was very special and a very loved little girl. She had a massive impact on our family. She was our little princess.

“Guy’s Hospital was absolutely fantastic, but we feel a little bit let down by Southend Hospital. We think Lily-Flo left hospital too early every time and should have been kept in until she reached a healthy size.”

When paediatric pathologist Liina Kiho, from Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, carried out a post-mortem examination on Lily-Flo’s body, she discovered signs of malnutrition, dehydration and an enlarged heart.

Dr Kiho told an inquest into the tot’s death: “She was an extremely skinny and tiny baby for her age.

“She had lots of medical problems and it’s difficult to say if one was a larger contributor than the other. They all contributed to why she wasn’t eating and that, ultimately, caused her death.”

Coroner Yvonne Blake recorded a narrative verdict at an inquest, held at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

She said: “She was a small baby for her age and appears to have succumbed to heart failure, following a recent chest infection.”