A 4-year-old girl has died in a fatal accident at a popular indoor water park in the UK.
Staffordshire Police posted a news release about the incident, which occurred on Monday. Authorities say they received a call from Waterworld on Festival Way in Stoke-on-Trent at around 4:20 PM. Waterworld staff and medics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service treated the 4-year-old at the scene. Emergency services transported her to a local hospital for treatment, but she died a short while later.
Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Maskew from 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.”
The Water Park Released A Statement About The Incident
A statement by Waterworld provides more details, explaining that the incident occurred at 4:15 PM in the ‘Lagoon Area’ of the park. Staff found the 4-year-old unconscious and treated her on the poolside. “All other visitors were asked to quietly leave the pool out of respect for the rescue operation underway, and we would like to thank them for their support and collaboration,” the post reads.
The statement explains that the park will remain closed today out of respect for the child’s family. Circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but Waterworld says it is working closely with authorities to determine what happened. Waterworld also posted about the closure on their official website, warning visitors not to travel to the park on August 5. “All our thoughts are with the family involved and their loved ones during these extremely difficult times,” the message concludes.
Police are asking any witnesses to dial 101 and quote case number 460.
Last month, an 18-year-old in the UK suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries at a fair in Southampton. Witnesses say the teen fell backwards on an ‘oscillating floor’ in the Fun House attraction. The rollers under the floor grabbed her hair, causing a severe head injury. Officials at the Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show said that the ride was 20 years old, but was tested that morning. Charles Cole, the fairground owner, called the incident a “freak accident” and confirmed an investigation was underway.