TAUNTON baby Rhianna Hardie, whose plight captured the nation's heart after she was horrifically scalded at her home almost a month ago, died on Tuesday night.

Aged 10 months, she died at Bristol Children's Hospital after battling to survive after suffering 95% burns in an accident at her home in Wel-lington Road on Sunday, November 19.

She was covered in boiling water when a water tank in the loft over her cot exploded.

Rhianna, parents Matthew Hardie and Charlene How-ard, and two-year-old sister Emilly, only moved into the council house two days bef-ore the accident.

Police and the Health & Safety Executive have now launched an investigation.

Speaking for the family yesterday (Wednesday), Rhi-anna's aunt, Emma Sulsh, said: "On the night of Dec-ember 12 Rhianna lost her fight to live.

"She had shown us on many occasions that she was fighting very hard for her survival, but eventually her heart couldn't take any more.

"Rhianna was a beautiful, happy, bright little baby who in her short life brought so much happiness to her whole family.

"Rhianna had just started to walk and had a fantastic life ahead of her.

"The whole family is in such a state of shock - we can't believe that our little Roostie has gone. How do we explain to Emilly that she will never see her sister again?

"I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and messages that have been received over the last three weeks.

"My brother and Charlie would like to be left alone now to grieve for their daughter."

Rhianna had showed good progress since the accident.

She had had several skin grafts taken from her head and nappy area, and the skin was adapting well.

However, doctors had war-ned that she was critically ill and could have died at any time in the next six months.

Her parents had described her as "a little fighter", but in the end the extent of her injuries was just too much.

Before Rhianna died an anonymous charitable trust donated £1,000 to her parents to cover their expenses of driving between Taunton and Bristol.

A spokesman for the pol-ice said: "The Avon & Somer-set Constabulary would like to express sincere condolences to Rhianna's family at what is obviously a very sad time for them.

Taunton Deane Council, owners of the family's home, said: "We will do whatever we can within our powers to help the family.

"Investigations are ongoing, and we will continue to cooperate with the police and the Health & Safety Exe-cutive.

"All our thoughts and best wishes are with Rhianna's family at this time."

An appeal has been set up to help Rhianna's parents through this difficult time.

Family friend Steve Ball, licensee of the Black Horse pub in Taunton, and Martin Walkinshaw have opened a Rhianna's Appeal account at Lloyds TSB.

People can give cheques to the bank made out to Rhi-anna's Appeal.

Hundreds of messages of support and condolence have also been sent to the family through our website.