A four-year-old girl tragically died after being found unconscious at Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent, and now the city council has said that it would launch a “full health and safety investigation”
A “full health and safety investigation” is underway says the council after a four-year-old girl tragically died at Waterworld.
Leaders of Stoke-on-Trent City Council have stated that their environmental health team is working with police following the death of the youngster at the aqua park. Emergency services were called to Waterworld in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, after the youngster was found in a critical condition at 4.20pm yesterday.
Lifeguards, staff and paramedics treated the girl at the poolside in the Lagoon area of the aqua park before she was taken to hospital. Despite the best efforts of hospital staff, the child, who has not been identified, tragically died a short while later. It comes after a mum a left 16-month-old home alone to die when she went on holiday.
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“Stoke-on-Trent City Council can confirm it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a four-year-old girl at Waterworld,” said a spokesperson, reported Stoke-on-TrentLive.
“The council’s environmental health team are working with the police and the privately-run venue to undertake a full health and safety investigation.” A police car has remained outside the attraction which is closed today.
Meanwhile Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Steve Watkins has sent his respects to the family. He said: “We were all devastated to hear of the death of a four-year-old girl at Waterworld. This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”
Emergency services say they had received ‘multiple’ emergency calls yesterday afternoon. A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Crews arrived to find Waterworld staff and bystanders performing CPR on a girl who was in a critical condition.
“The ambulance team quickly took over resuscitation efforts to commence advanced life support before conveying the girl by land ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital whilst life-saving treatment continued en-route.
“Tragically, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save the little girl, and she was confirmed deceased in hospital a short time later. Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this truly awful time.”
Bosses at Waterworld say they have been left ‘in shock’. A spokesperson said yesterday: “All our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during these extremely difficult times. Waterworld is in shock and has decided to remain closed tomorrow (August 5) out of respect for the family. Waterworld is working closely with the authorities at this sad time.”
Staffordshire Police have urged members of the public not to speculate over the tragedy. Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Maskew, of Staffordshire Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the family at this terribly sad time. We are now making enquiries and looking to establish the circumstances of the incident.
“We would ask that members of the public avoid speculating in these early stages of the investigation and allow the family to grieve.” Witnesses are asked to contact the force on 101 and quote incident 460 of August 4.