Girl, 2, is fighting for her life after plunging 40ft from bedroom window

• Residents from the block of flats described how they heard a 'massive thud' 
• The toddler has been named locally as 'happy and sweet' Lara Coleman 
• She fell from the third-floor window on Bedford Street, Portsmouth, last night 

A toddler was today fighting for her life after plummeting 40ft from her bedroom window. 

Residents from the block of flats in Portsmouth, Hants, described hearing a 'massive thud' when the two-year-old girl fell from her third floor.

One witness said there were two bangs - the child smacking a telephone box before then hitting the street.

The girl, named locally as 'happy and sweet' Lara Coleman, was airlifted to hospital following the 'complete accident' on Bedford Street around 6pm last night.

Neighbours said her mother Fran Coleman was 'hysterical', while her father Steve Coleman rushed to Lara's aid as she lay seriously injured on the street.

Hampshire Constabulary said it is investigating the incident which caused 'life threatening injuries' and officers today carried out enquiries at the scene.

Witness Emma Reilly, 31, said a metal telephone junction box on the street below Lara's window broke her fall and if it wasn't for that the toddler 'would have died for sure'.

Mrs Reilly, who lives in the block, said: 'I heard a massive thud from outside and at first I thought someone had been run over.

'But when I looked down from my window I could see the baby lying on the floor.

'I shouted down to her mum because she had obviously been in the bath and had a towel around her head but came to the window to see what the commotion was.

'I shouted "that's your baby, that's your baby!". I think her husband had legged it downstairs at this point.

'It was horrible to see. Lara is such a lovely and sweet little girl, always so happy and smiling.

'There were actually two bangs, one of them was her hitting the green metal box and the other was her hitting the street.

'Had she not hit that box, she would have died, for sure... She fell right in front of two 13 year old boys - they must be so shaken up.' 

Lara's eight year old brother is called Leo, neighbours said. Karen Marsh, 54, rushed to Mrs Coleman's aid and said she was 'hysterical'. 

Ms Marsh said: 'She was in total shock, she was hysterical. I told her to gather some clothes for the hospital.

'That poor woman, it's truly dreadful. It put me in total shock mode and I just wanted to help out. She kept asking 'is she going to be OK? Is she going to be OK?'

'It seemed like she didn't have a clue what happened at first as she was in the bath - it was just a complete accident.'

The parents are understood to be by Lara's side in hospital. The four-storey building was taped off by Hampshire Constabulary last night but reopened today.

A police spokeswoman said: 'Officers attended Bedford Street just after 6pm yesterday (May 29) following a report of a two-year-old girl being injured.

'The girl suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital.

'We are making enquiries into the exact circumstances.'