Girl killed by falling tree in Southend park named as Leonna Ruka

The family of a seven-year-old girl who died after a tree collapsed on her in a park has described her as “a light in our lives”.

Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham in east London, was visiting Southend-on-Sea with family.

Emergency services were called to Chalkwell Park shortly before 15:00 BST on Saturday, but Leonna died in hospital.

A six-year-old girl, who was also under the tree and is Leonna’s cousin, remains critically ill in hospital. Three other children had minor injuries.

In a statement Leonna’s family said: “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.

“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 funny, kind, and full of life – a shining star who brought happiness wherever she went and to whoever she met.

“From the moment she walked into a room, she would light it up.

“She was the kind of girl who gave love without asking for anything in return.

“She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair.”

Up to 50 people tried to lift the tree when it trapped five children underneath it, witnesses told the BBC, including some from nearby Westcliff Cricket Club.

They were swiftly joined by first responders from all emergency services.

On Monday, police, fire and ambulance service and Southend-on-Sea City Council representatives laid flowers and paid their respects at the park.

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.

“Everyone – from my officers and staff, to ambulance, fire and council colleagues, to the public of Southend and across the country – is struggling to come to terms with what happened.

“We are all hoping for a positive outcome in relation to the little girl who remains in hospital.”

A full and independent police investigation was under way, she added.

The park, west of the city centre, is managed by the council.

It believed the tree was about 350 years old and inspections of it had taken place on Monday.