GEORGE TOWN: A Penang vacation for a family turned tragic after a six-year-old girl apparently fell to her death at a hotel in Tanjung Bungah here.

       The girl and her family from Sungai Petani, Kedah, who had earlier spent the night at the hotel, had just gone swimming before the incident occurred at about 11.30am on Monday (Oct 18).

       Her 44-year-old mother said they were on their way back to their rooms to pack for checking out after showering on the ground floor when her daughter suddenly dashed into an open elevator.

       "None of us managed to enter the elevator with her as its doors closed quickly.

       "We went searching for her and about 10 minutes later, were informed that the body of a child had been found on the hotel's second floor.

       "I was stunned and did not expect it to be my youngest child," Siti told MalaysiaGazette at the hotel lobby.

       She added that the family accepted the loss despite it being a heavy blow.

       Investigations are ongoing and the child’s body has been sent to Penang Hospital for post-mortem.