A MAJOR update has been issued after a four-year-old girl died at a “rammed” water park.
The council revealed a “full health and safety investigation” is underway after the tragedy at Waterworld, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on Monday afternoon.
SWNSWaterworld was rammed and needed more lifeguards on the day a four-year-old girl died, say customers[/caption]
SWNSThe aqua park was closed on Tuesday following the tragedy[/caption]
It comes as customers claimed the attraction was packed with visitors and needed more lifeguards.
The aqua park has remained shut after the little girl was found unconscious in the lagoon area and later died in hospital.
Police were called to the aqua park at around 4:20pm to reports of a four-year-old in critical condition.
Lifeguards, staff and paramedics treated the girl at the poolside in the Lagoon area of the aqua park before she was raced to hospital.
Despite the desperate efforts of hospital staff, the four-year-old sadly passed away.
A could spokesperson said: “The council’s environmental health team are working with the police and the privately-run venue to undertake a full health and safety investigation.”
Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Steve Watkins paid his respects in a statement which read: “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.”
Meanwhile, residents living nearby said the community had been left heartbroken by the tragedy.
Others claimed the aqua park had been “packed” and “needed more lifeguards” the day of the horror.
One local, who did not wish to be named, said: “By all accounts it was rammed in there and they are renowned for cramming in as many people as possible.
“It used to be a brilliant venue but it’s got a bit run down over the years and it can get overly busy in there during peak times.
“There are not enough lifeguards in my opinion when it’s so packed.
“They do a great job but I think there needs to be more on duty, certainly during the school holidays and busier times.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but by that area I believe there’s wave machines that are quite choppy and you need to be a strong swimmer but there’s also slides there.
“It’s just a complete tragedy. That poor girl had just gone for a day of fun during the school holidays and now she’s gone. I just can’t stop thinking her and her family.”
The water park, which opened in 1989, attracts around 400,000 visitors each year and boasts three pools and 20 slides.
Another resident added: “I think everyone is just heartbroken really that this has happened just over the road from us.
“There was a huge emergency response, police and ambulances everywhere.
“You can’t even imagine what it must have been like in there, it is just every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Customer Heather Neville, 33, of Stone, Staffordshire, arrived at the site with her two sons to find it closed after only learning of the girl’s death this morning.
She added: “It’s just absolutely dreadful. I don’t know if I can bring myself to bring the boys back when it reopens now, it is just awful what’s happened.”
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.”
A Waterworld spokesperson added: “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 out of respect for the family.
“Waterworld is working closely with the authorities at this sad time.”
Back in 2022, emergency services attended the multi-million pound venue after more than a hundred swimmers suffering from sickness and eye irritation were evacuated.
Waterworld have been approached for comment.
And in 2021, The Sun reported how a drowning boy was dramatically rescued from a pool at the attraction.
The child was resuscitated by swift-acting lifeguards, who were praised by bosses at the Staffordshire attraction for “avoiding a tragedy”.
He was rushed to hospital where he was reported to be “alert and breathing” upon arrival moments after his dramatic rescue.
SWNSThe water park attracts around 400,000 visitors each year and boasts three pools and 20 slides[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
