A heartbroken dad has told how his two-year-old daughter suffocated to death as she choked on a cherry at the family home.

Viviana Maria Barel had been eating fruit with her two siblings at their apartment in Revine Lago, northern Italy, at around 10 pm on the evening of Saturday, 14th June, when she began choking.

Dad Renato Barel told local media that a nurse living in the same block tried to clear the blockage with the Heimlich manoeuvre.

An ambulance was called and medics quickly arrived and began to prepare to intubate the child and load her into the ambulance to rush her to hospital, but it was already too late. The little girl died from a lack of oxygen.

Dad Renato said: "She was a happy and lively child."

The police are investigating her death.

Viviana's funeral was set to take place at the parish church of Revine Lago, at 3:30 pm on 18th June.

(Joseph Golder / newsX)