A BODY has been discovered amid a major hunt for a schoolgirl who fell into the water whilst out on a walk with her dad.
Emergency crews had been frantically searching for the 13-year-old who vanished under the water at Baitings Dam yesterday afternoon.
Ben LackCrews have scoured the dam since yesterday afternoon[/caption]
Ben LackThe teen had been enjoying a half-term walk with her dad when she vanished[/caption]
Family told how the youngster had a “really bright future”Ben Lack
West Yorkshire Police confirmed they had discovered a body earlier this afternoon.
It is believed to be the girl’s body, but formal identification is yet to be completed.
Detective Inspector Laura Hall, of Calderdale’s Safeguarding Team, said: “While formal identification is yet to take place, the girl’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.
“My thoughts go out to her family and friends at this very sad time.
“Our enquiries are continuing into the death in order to establish exactly what happened yesterday, but we do not believe it to be suspicious.”
A cordon was put in place at the reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, after cops were called at around 1.20pm on Wednesday.
Underwater search teams worked around the clock in an attempt to find the youngster, with two RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) spotted at the site this morning.
The teenager, from Halifax, had been posing for pictures with her dad when she tragically fell into the 140ft-deep water.
It is understood she hit the water after falling roughly 30ft from the parapet of the dam.
Local resident Sue Ferris helped comfort the girl’s family, who told her that the youngster had a “bright future”.
The 80-year-old said: “She had just got into grammar school, they told me.
“She wanted to walk round the reservoir with her dad because it was half term, but the rest of the family didn’t want to go.
“It was just dad and daughter at the reservoir when she fell in. The rest of the family came after the accident.
“Dad had been taking photographs, according to a witness, and he also heard dad screaming and shouting her name after she fell in – but he did not go into the water.
“He had some kind of heart problem and was clutching his chest soon afterwards and was taken away by ambulance.
“They were very proud of her. She had a really bright future.”
Mrs Ferris, who has lived in the same house overlooking the reservoir for 20 years, slammed officials for a buoyancy aids around the water.
She added: “It is disgraceful that there are no life rings anywhere on the parapet.
“Yorkshire Water added the white metal railings on top of the stone structure some years ago now.
“But it only adds about half a foot to the barrier height and actually helps people to climb onto the wall.
“It gives them something to grip on to.
“All it is doing is helping people to stand on the wall.”
Four West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue crews were sent out to the dam on Wednesday, assisted by Littleborough crew.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service also confirmed they sent officers from their Hazardous Area Response Team.
Speaking on Wednesday, a West Yorkshire police spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon police were called to a report a girl had fallen into water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden.
“Emergency services are currently on the scene, with searches ongoing to locate the girl.”
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