A GRIEVING father has paid tribute to his baby daughter who died at just 10 hours old.

Little Keira Coote was born 17 weeks premature at the Royal Bolton Hospital on April 4.

Doctors told her devastated parents, Michael Coote and Evette Garside, she only had a few hours to live because of a serious lung problem.

She weighed just 1lb 1oz — half a bag of sugar.

Her heartbroken father, Michael Coote, said Keira was determined to fight on until her last breath.

Mr Coote, aged 28, of Westland Avenue, Farnworth, said: “She was a little fighter from the start and never gave up.

“The doctors let us take her out of the incubator for five minutes so we could enjoy our brief time together and that was great for us. She passed away in our arms.”

Mr Coote’s partner, Evette Garside, aged 33, went to hospital at just after midnight and went into labour around 2am, giving birth to Keira at 2.55am.

Doctors discovered Keira’s lungs had not developed and she was put in an incubator to help her with breathing problems.

She died at about 1pm and leaves her parents, six-yearold brother Ryan and threeyear- old sister Jordanna.

Mr Coote, who works as a self-employed electrician, added: “Evette came home later on Monday and she’s physically good, but is devastated by what has happened.

“I am relieved that she is okay. The funeral will be an occasion for all our family to say goodbye to Keira.”

The funeral takes place at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church in Plodder Lane, Farnworth, tomorrow at 10am.