Southend tree fall tragedy: What do we know so far?

BBC News

a day ago

A seven-year-old girl was killed and her six-year-old cousin critically injured after a tree partially collapsed.Hundreds of teddy bears and flowers have been left at Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea as the city continues to grieve.Here is what we know so far about the circumstances around the tragedy.
What happened?
A large tree in Chalkwell Park partially fell on five children at about 15:00 BST on Saturday.Up to 50 people nearby rushed to the scene and tried to lift the branch that had cracked and fell to the ground.Leonna, seven, from Dagenham, was visiting her extended family in Southend-on-Sea and was fatally injured.A six-year-old girl, a cousin of Leonna's, remains in hospital in a critical condition.Three other children were also sent to hospital with minor injuries.In a tribute, Leonna's family described her as a "light in our lives"."It is with broken hearts and unimaginable pain that we share the devastating loss of our beloved daughter Leonna – our beautiful, bright, and loving little girl, taken from us far too soon."We will never stop wondering who she would have become, but we will forever carry who she was."Leonna will live forever in our hearts – in every laugh, every sunbeam, every act of kindness we see in the world. We were so lucky to have had her, even if only for a short time."The family also said they were grateful for all of the tributes paid to their "precious" daughter.
What do we know about the tree?
The tree has been identified as some form of cedar and is about 350 years old.It used to be supported by wooden props but they were eventually replaced by metal ones.James Courtenay, city councillor and Conservative group leader, said the tree had been supported by the metal bars for decades.Tree surgeons spent Monday inspecting the tree and the area remains cordoned off to the public.
How has the community reacted?
Hundreds of teddy bears and flowers have been left at the park by people wanting to pay their respects.Emergency service personnel along with local dignitaries visited the scene on Monday to leave tributes.A local primary school left floral tributes and their card read: "Our entire school community is heartbroken by this tragic loss. "We're sending our deepest condolences and hold you in our thoughts. From all at Chalkwell Hall Infant School."Jessie Huggins, 31, lives nearby and came to the area to pay her respects."I've got children myself and I think that it could have been anyone's little one that day," she said."You can see the tree from here and it must have been absolutely terrifying, what people must have been going through at the time."Another local resident, Carol Sheil, 66, brought her two-year-old granddaughter to lay flowers.She said she was born and raised in the area and had seen generations of her family play under the tree."It's just heartbreaking," she said. "It could have happened to anybody, anyone could've been in that position."We just feel sorry for the families."
What did Essex Police say?
Essex Police is investigating the incident and a cordon remains around the scene, but the rest of the park is open. Officers have been supporting the families affected and the force urged anyone with more information to come forward.Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris said: "To lose a child in any circumstance is unthinkable, to lose a child in this terrible way defies all belief."We will update on the outcome of these inquiries as soon as we possibly can."Until then, I'd ask that the public remember how harmful potentially unsubstantiated commentary can be."There will be a time and a place for the facts around what led to this incident to be explored in a public forum."Our investigation is still at a relatively early stage and, as desperately as people want answers, I'd please urge patience."
What happens next?
Essex Police launched an investigation on Saturday and is working with the Health and Safety Executive, which confirmed it would have inspectors at the site. The park, west of the city centre, is managed by Southend-on-Sea City Council.David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said the council would be co-operating with police as their investigation continued.
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