Latest news with #Leonna
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I used to ride bike under that doomed tree - it could've killed me decades ago'
Since Leonna Ruka died after a tree collapsed in Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, last week, concern has been raised about managing trees and dangerous trees in our parks and green spaces She was "a shining star who brought happiness wherever she went and she met". Leonna Ruka's death has rocked the nation. A seven-year-old girl enjoying a family day out in the park was pronounced dead within hours - after a tree collapsed on her. Concern has grown in the week since, not least because Southend-on-Sea City Council is yet to confirm when the cedar in Chalkwell Park was last inspected. Residents across the Essex city have expressed their anger and sadness since the tragedy, which happened on Saturday afternoon. Adam Ramet, a 54-year-old dad, used to ride his trike under the huge cedar - and fears he could have been killed by it years ago. Photographs taken as early as 1919 are believed to show wooden struts that, more than a century ago, were propping up the much-loved tree's vast horizontal limbs. Mr Ramet, who was in the park on Saturday and heard Leonna's screams, said: "The cedar has been a big strong presence that's just always been there, it sits in all our childhood memories. For this terrible tragedy to have come from that tree is almost unthinkable. People are grieving for the little girl who lost her life and shocked because they know it could so easily have been them or their own kids." It means Southend-on-Sea is consumed with grief and sadness. Speaking to Mail Online, Mr Ramet added: "People are deeply affected by what happened... The struts have been there as long as I can remember, and you could see very clearly that it was the top of the tree that had sheared off sideways and come crashing down." Four other children were injured in the horror on Saturday. Families had gathered in the Victorian park to enjoy the warm weather last week, many having picnics while their children played. Leonna's family had travelled to see relatives. Although Leonna's family are from Dagenham, east London, the community has rallied in Southend-on-Sea. Flowers have been left near the doomed scene. Experts have this week indicated that while fatalities from fallen trees are mercifully rare – five or six every year across the UK according to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures – a hot summer's afternoon is the most likely time for such a tragedy. Arboriculturalists have pointed to a phenomenon called Sudden Branch Drop (SBD) – the unexpected collapse of mature tree branches during a prolonged dry period where there is no other obvious defect or cause. But due to the police investigation, Southend-on-Sea City Council is yet to confirm when the cedar in Chalkwell Park was last inspected or whether its position next to a main footpath meant it required extra checks. Essex Police said that no arrests or charges have so far been made and that "our enquiries continue".
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.
Metro
01-07-2025
- General
- Metro
'Beautiful' girl, 7, crushed to death by falling tree named
Her family have paid tribute (Picture: REX/ESSEX POLICE) A seven-year-old girl crushed to death by a falling tree has been named as Leonna Ruka. Leonna, from Dagenham, was enjoying the warm weather in Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea on Sunday when a tree collapsed. Several children were pinned beneath it, including Leonna, as dozens of park-goers and family members rushed to raise the broken branches. Leonna was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, where she died. The youngster's family said in a statement today: '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. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. 'Leonna was more than just a child – she was a light in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the joy of meeting her. 'She was an intelligent and curious soul, full of energy and creativity.' Bani, the girl's cousin, previously told Metro that some 50 people raced to help the children after the tree snapped. 'She was an honest girl who was always good in school. She had so much wisdom for someone so young. Now she is gone,' he said. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. Arrow MORE: Pilot escapes with minor injuries after plane nosedives into Essex field Arrow MORE: Tree that killed girl, 7, and badly hurt another 'was propped up by metal poles' Arrow MORE: Traffic delays on M25 after multi-vehicle crash
