Emmerdale star dies after freak accident leaves her covered in burns
Angelica King – played by Rebecca Bakes – recently returned to Emmerdale, following a stint in a secure children’s home for causing the death of her friend Heath Hope. However, she isn’t the only actress to have portrayed this character.
In 2009, Sophie Firth took on the role of Jimmy and Nicola King’s daughter Angelica for a three-month period, before tragically dying in a horrific accident at just three years old. Sophie was at her grandmother’s house in South Yorkshire in December 2012 when her dress caught fire from a gas heater.
The young girl was preparing to play an angel in her nursery nativity the following week, but tragedy struck as she tried on her costume.
Her family recounted the horrifying moment when she leaned over the gas fire and her dress ignited into a fireball. Despite her mother Amy’s attempts to extinguish the flames with a blanket, Sophie suffered burns covering 70 percent of her body.
After nine days at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sophie tragically succumbed to a blood infection. Her parents Neil and Amy released a statement at the time, mourning the loss of their “bright and beautiful” little girl and vowing to “carry their little princess in their arms forever”, reports the Mirror.
A representative for Emmerdale expressed their sorrow, stating: “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.”
In the meantime, 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.
“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.”
Following Sophie’s death, her parents have been raising funds for charities in her memory, including The Children’s Hospital Charity – with their JustGiving page amassing nearly £23,000. They wrote on their 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.”
