The father of a two-year-old girl who drowned after her pushchair rolled into the sea is said to have let go of the handles to kiss his mistress.
Andrew Hopper has admitted he was with his lover when the tragic accident took place.
A gust of wind blew Rebecca Hopper and her eight-month-old brother Lewis into the sea as their father embraced his female companion, believed to be a work colleague.
The pair had been strapped into a double buggy when Mr Hopper let go for a matter of seconds.
Andrew Hopper and his daughter Rebecca, who drowned when her buggy rolled into the sea. Mr Hopper has admitted he was kissing his mistress at the time
<span style="font-weight: bold">He and his mistress watched helplessly as the pushchair rolled off the open walkway in Folkestone, Kent and plunged 15ft into the icy waters on Sunday.</span>
Rebecca's parents, Andrew and his wife Sarah Hopper, yesterday paid tribute to their 'sweet and gorgeous little girl'.
In a tribute released by Kent Police, the couple from Chatham said: 'Rebecca was a special little girl with a special place in all our hearts.
'She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. We love her so much and she will be in our hearts forever.'
They released photographs of Rebecca <span style="font-weight: bold">and baby Lewis, who is recovering after being airlifted to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.</span>
Mr Hopper, 38, who along with his female companion dived into the freezing sea to release his children from their pushchair, went into shock when police told him about Rebecca's death his family said last night.
The last time he had seen his daughter's limp blue body was before she was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital in East London.
Rebecca, who would have celebrated her third birthday next week, was declared dead soon after.
The children's grandfather Barry Hopper described how his son broke down and had heart palpitations after hearing the tragic news on Sunday evening.
Mr Hopper said last night: 'He was obviously worried about her when they airlifted her up to London but it wasn't until later when the police told him that she had actually died that it hit him.
'Then he started having palpitations and had to be admitted to hospital.
'He's not been under sedation because it never actually hit him at the time that she was dead. He's very shocked but he's recovering.
<span style="font-weight: bold">'It was a tragic accident. The buggy just slipped away from them on a sloping bit of pathway and that was it.</span>

'Both he and Sarah were at Lewis' bedside throughout the night. We are just relieved that Lewis is going to be OK.'
Six members of the public, including a passing lifeboat volunteer and an ex-military policeman joined the desperate rescue attempt.
The grieving parents added: 'We would like to thank all the emergency services and members of the public who were involved in the rescue.
'We would like to thank the London hospital for all their efforts to save our little girl and the William Harvey Hospital staff for all their help and support for Lewis, who is coming along really well.'
Superintendent Mark Nottage of Kent Police said yesterday: 'At the time of the incident an off-duty Kent Police employee, who is a volunteer coastguard, was in the area.
'He went to the assistance of the children as did a number of people who were also walking in the Warren area of Folkestone.'
Kent Police appealed for witnesses to contact Folkestone police station.
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