The family of a nine-week-old baby who died suddenly have been left “devastated” and still looking for answers.

Premature Olive Susan Devall was born eight weeks early at Tunbridge Wells Hospital on April 24, but died after suffering a cardiac arrest on July 1.

Her mum Rachel Devall says the loss has torn her and her family’s hearts in two.

“We are all devastated,” she explained. “We can’t get over how our beautiful girl has just been cruelly taken from us and we still have no answers.

Olive, whose family are from the gypsy and travelling community, spent the first five weeks of her life on the neonatal intensive care unit in Tunbridge Wells before being taken to home to the Coldharbour caravan site in Aylesford.

The 24-year-old explained how she woke up to find the baby unresponsive before rushing for help and calling an ambulance.

She continued: “I was performing CPR on Olive while we waited for the paramedics to arrive. They worked on her for six hours but unfortunately, we had to make the decision to stop Olive’s life support.

“There was nothing they could do for her and she couldn’t breathe on her own. She was brain dead.”

Explaining the bond with her only daughter, the single mum said: “I was with Olive every day while she was in hospital, spending as many hours as possible with her and giving her all my time.

“I am truly grateful that I did spend as many hours as possible with her. Olive was a beautiful, sun-shining baby and she was loved very dearly by everyone around her. Olive’s death is a tragedy to us all.”

Olive didn’t have a dad around, but was loved by her grandparents, Leonard and Rachel, as well as her uncles Lennyjoe, Archie and her auntie Frankie who all “gave her enough love for a thousand families”.

The heartbroken mum, who grew up in Snodland, added: “Olive was an absolute darling. She was just perfect in every way. She is a diamond that will shine bright in our lives.

A funeral for baby Olive will be held on Wednesday, August 9, from 1pm at the All Saints’ Christ Church in Malling Road, Snodland.

The family have arranged for the tot to travel from Aylesford in a Cinderella carriage via London Road, Lunsford Lane and into Snodland.

Rachel said: “If anyone would like to stand out and wave, or some may like to dress as characters, it would be hugely appreciated.

“Olive’s final journey is a celebration of her life and her bravery and we encourage anyone who would like to please come out and show your support.”