Tragedy as daughter, 12, of US airman stationed at Italian military base is found dead in her bed days after suffering minor injury while playing American football - as investigation is launched into her death

The 12-year-old daughter of a US airman stationed in Italy has been found dead in her bed - days after suffering a minor injury while playing American football.

Air Force investigators are now assisting Italian authorities as they work to determine how she died.

The girl's parents found her dead in her bed at the family home near Prata di Pordenone in Northern Italy on Tuesday. The father is based in Italy's Aviano Air Base, 15 miles away from the town.

The investigation into the girl's death is in the early stages, and no cause or contributing factors have been determined.

An autopsy is said to be looking at what caused the sudden death.

Just two days earlier, on Sunday, the girl was taken to hospital with leg pain due to an injury she received playing American Football, according to Stars and Stripes.

The father of the 12-year-old girl who died on Tuesday is based in the Aviano Air Base in Aviano

Principals for Aviano's middle-high and elementary schools informed parents of the death in emails the evening the girl died.

School officials discussed it with students the following morning and have put a crisis management plan in place to help children effected.

As reported by Italian newspaper Ansa, doctors suspect she died of a heart attack but this hasn't been officially confirmed.