Latest news with #ChalkwellPark
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Unfathomably random death of a 7-year-old in a park raises troubling questions - and how you risk death every time you step under a tree this summer, revealed by BARBARA DAVIES
The old cedar of Lebanon in Southend's Chalkwell Park had already been standing for more than 350 years when, shortly after the end of the First World War, a photographer snapped a group of children sitting on the iron bench which then encircled it. In the background of the picture postcard he produced, it's just possible to make out wooden struts that, more than a century ago, were propping up the much-loved tree's vast horizontal limbs.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Southend churches open doors after fatal tree collapse
Churches will be opening their doors for anyone grieving following the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl after part of a tree collapsed. Leonna Ruka, seven, was in Southend's Chalkwell Park on Saturday with her family when she was fatally injured. Her six-year-old cousin remains in a critical have been welcomed to St Mark's Church on Hamlet Road between 18:00 and 19:00 BST on church is open for a time of reflection, prayer and lighting of candles for anyone grieving or feeling troubled following the tragedy. St Michael's and All Angels Church on Leigh Road in Westcliff-on-Sea will also be opening on Thursday from 09:00 BST.A spokesperson for the church said: "We are desperately saddened to hear of the tragedy that occurred over the weekend in Chalkwell Park."Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the child that passed away and of those seriously injured. "We also send our love and support to those nearby who did all they could to help." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- BBC News
Southend tree fall tragedy: What do we know so far?
A seven-year-old girl was killed and her six-year-old cousin critically injured after a tree partially of teddy bears and flowers have been left at Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea as the city continues to 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 to 50 people nearby rushed to the scene and tried to lift the branch that had cracked and fell to the 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 other children were also sent to hospital with minor 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 used to be supported by wooden props but they were eventually replaced by metal Courtenay, city councillor and Conservative group leader, said the tree had been supported by the metal bars for 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 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 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 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 Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said the council would be co-operating with police as their investigation continued. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Telegraph
Pictured: Girl, 7, who died after tree fell on her in park
A seven-year-old girl who died when a tree collapsed onto her in an Essex park has been pictured for the first time. Leonna Ruka was visiting family when the accident happened in Chalkwell Park, Southend, on Saturday. In a tribute issued through Essex Police, her family said she was the 'light in our lives'.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- The Independent
Collapsed tree that killed girl, 7, held up by supports since 1990s: councillor
A tree collapse in Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, resulted in the death of a seven-year-old girl. Four other children were injured in the incident, with a six-year-old girl remaining in critical condition. A senior councillor recalled the tree had been supported by wooden structures since the 1990s, later replaced by metal ones. Eyewitnesses, including members of a cricket team, attempted to lift the fallen tree to rescue the trapped children. Police are investigating the incident, and an area has been set up for tributes.
