A grief-stricken mum has told of the devastating moment she tried to save her five-year-old daughter after a stone fence fell on her head.
But tragic Alysson Pinto-Chaumana died after the part of the wall at her uncle's apartment gave way suddenly.
Her mum, Maria Lorena Chaumana, said: "I look to the side and then I see her fall back and was crushed — her whole head was crushed.
"I grabbed her desperately. I said 'My love, my life' and I ran, and thank God there was an ambulance on the corner.
"I didn’t know why they were there, but I ran with her in my arms like a desperate mother, all bloody."
New York Daily News says the youngster was dashed to hospital but medics were unable to save her.
The tragedy happened on Thursday in Brooklyn, New York City, after Alysson walked up to the fence with ornamental pillars.
But it teetered and eventually tumbled.
Maria rushed to scoop her daughter of the floor in scenes distressed witnesses described as heartbreaking.
Harry Netchandro, who is the building's landlord, told ABC: "It just fell down."
He later told New York Daily News "We have no idea how it happened, everyone we've talked to said it was sturdy.
"We would lean on it and everything. It’s just something that happened, an accident. We feel horrible."
Edgar Pinto, Alysson’s father and Maria’s estranged husband, said: "All work needs to pass an inspection and I don’t know how this managed to pass."
Council officials ordered the landlords to take the fence down Friday and filed a violation for failure to maintain the property against the building’s owner.
The violation comes with fines ranging from $6,000 (£5,000) to $25,000 (£20,750).
The investigation continues.
