Police launch probe into death of girl, 11, who drowned at water park during friend’s birthday party as tearful lifeguards lay flowers at scene
- Child tragically died after going missing during birthday party at busy waterpark
- Emergency services were called at 3.55pm, with girl, 11, finally found at 5.10pm
- Desperate onlookers dived into the lake by Liquid Leisure, asking for goggles
- The child’s death is being treated as unexplained – and investigated by police
- Tearful lifeguards laid wreaths at the scene as the park was shut today
- Were you at the park yesterday? If so, email: [email protected]
Police are investigating the death of an 11-year-old girl during her friend’s birthday party at a Berkshire water park yesterday.
The child drowned after being lost for an hour at Liquid Leisure near Datchet yesterday afternoon, with two helicopters rushing to the scene.
Tearful lifeguards laid wreaths at Liquid Leisure this morning as the site remained closed.
Desperate onlookers shouted the child’s name and dived into a lake by the park in an effort to find her, as guards pleaded for guests’ goggles to search underwater.
One guest, who preferred to remain anonymous, said lifeguards rushed in to the changing rooms when they realised not everyone had returned at the end of the session.
She told MailOnline: ‘We saw them frantically flipping over inflatables and dismantling the ninja course, but at that point we were not told what was happening which aroused confusion for pretty much everyone there.
‘Then suddenly police arrived at the scene along with firefighters and paramedics.’
Thames Valley Police were called at around 3.55pm, with the child finally found at 5.10pm.
Flowers were left outside Liquid Leisure, which remained closed, by members of the public
Tearful lifeguards also set down their own wreaths after working hard to try to save the girl
One eyewitness, who had been in the same session as the child at Liquid Leisure yesterday, said lifeguards rushed in to the changing rooms to ask for goggles before ‘frantically flipping inflatables’ in search of her. She submitted video of long queues at the exit due to the presence of emergency vehicles (left), as well as the arrival of a police helicopter (right) around 4.30pm
She was rushed to Wexham Park hospital, but tragically died.
Her death is being treated as unexplained, with a police probe now underway.
The girl’s family has been informed.
Thames Valley Police told MailOnline there was no update to the investigation just before midday.
The child’s identity will be revealed at the inquest, the date of which has not yet been confirmed, Berkshire Coroners’ Office stated.
A pair of security officials man the gates at Liquid Leisure, which remained closed on Sunday
The identity of the child will not be formally revealed until the inquest into her death, Berkshire Coroners’ Office confirmed today. Pictured: flowers outside the gates of closed Liquid Leisure
The gates to the leisure park were shut this morning, with numerous ‘CLOSED’ signs placed
The aqua park this morning was shut after the tragic fatal accident yesterday afternoon
The 11-year-old girl got into difficulty at Liquid Leisure in Datchet (site pictured this morning)
An investigation into how the child tragically died yesterday were still ongoing this morning
Local policing area commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, Superintendent Michael Greenwood, said last night: ‘My thoughts are with the family and friends of the girl who has died as a result of this tragic incident.
‘We are in the early stages of investigating this incident to understand the full circumstances.
‘This has been an extremely traumatic and upsetting incident for all involved.
‘I am aware that several members of the public entered the lake shortly after the girl got into difficultly, but were unable to locate her.
‘I would like to commend them for their courage and bravery.’
One eyewitness said the child was at Liquid Leisure with a group of friends for a birthday party when she went under the surface.
She told Sky News she saw the child going under the water and ‘didn’t come back up’, at which point lifeguards rushed over.
The tragic incident too place at the lake by Liquid Leisure in Windsor
A witness said the girl was seen going under the water and said that she ‘didn’t come back up…At that point, the lifeguards came running.’
Lifeguards were reportedly running all over the obstacles and looking under them
One eyewitness said the child was at Liquid Leisure with a group of friends for a birthday party when she went under the surface
The mum, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘At that point, the lifeguards came running.
‘She was with a group of friends for a girl’s birthday. My daughter spoke to the birthday group.’
Sarah Wooster’s child was in the water at the time of the incident, she told the MailOnline: ‘My children and I were at Liquid Leisure today at the time of the incident. My child was in the water when it happened.
‘I’m feeling really shaken.’
Members of the public were asked to call the girl’s name by the beach in case she’d left the water, but they got no response.
The waterpark is around 20 miles from central London and is located just 10 minutes from Heathrow airport.
MailOnline has contacted the water park for comment.
