A woman whose 16-year-old sister went on the school trip where an 11-year-old girl died, said the pupils and staff have been left devastated by the tragedy. 

Evha Jannath fell out of a circular boat on the Splash Canyon attraction during a school trip to Drayton Manor Theme Park on Tuesday.  

Asked how her sister was coping, she said. "She was devastated. She didn't want to talk about it. Nobody knows what's happened, we can't speculate on what has happened. The school is not very big, everybody know each other."

Image source, PA

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Here are the latest developments following the death of 11-year-old Evha Jannath at Drayton Manor Theme Park:

• Evha Jannath died yesterday afternoon after falling from a water rapid ride, Splash Canyon, at Drayton Manor Theme Park
• The 11-year-old was on a school trip with Jameah Girls Academy in Leicester
• The girl's family say their "world has been torn apart"
• The theme park in Tamworth is closed today as a mark of respect to the girl
• The Health and Safety Executive are on site carrying out their investigations into the cause
• Jameah Girls' Academy is closed while its pupils come to terms with what has happened

Evha Jannath, who died after falling from a ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park, was "loved by everyone", her head teacher says.

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

Noorbanu Sheikh lives next door to the family of Evha Jannath in the Belgrave area of Leicester.

She told us she knows them well and that they moved to the city from Rugby in 2015.

Noorbanu described Evha as a "really quiet" girl who was "shy".

"My heart literally sank [when I heard about the death]. I didn't know what to do."

She told the BBC she spoke with the family last night and took them some food. "They were really heartbroken - the mum was nonstop crying."

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

A church near Drayton Manor Theme Park has opened a book of condolence for the 11-year-old girl who died yesterday after falling from the river rapid ride, Splash Canyon.

St Peter's Church in Drayton Bassett writes on Facebook, external: "We are open all day till 9pm. You are welcome to pop in, light a candle, say a prayer or write a message of condolence following yesterday's tragedy at Drayton Manor Theme Park."

Image source, St Peter's Church

The book of condolence has been started by Reverend Jonathan Iddon, as the church is only a mile from the theme park.

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

The head teacher of Jameah Girls Academy has spoken about the death of pupil Evha Jannath at Drayton Manor Theme Park.

Erfana Bora said: “Yesterday, one of our children, Evha Jannath, passed away in tragic circumstances. She was a lovely, sweet-natured girl and she was loved by everyone at the school.

“As a school and as a community we are trying to make sense of this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and our prayers are with Evha’s family at this most difficult time. 

"We will be providing specialist support to our pupils and our staff and we ask that they be given time and the space to grieve and to come to terms with our huge loss.”

Facebook

The school head teacher Erfana Bora is joined by Suleman Nagdi from the Federation of Muslim Organisations...

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

The family of 11-year-old Evha Jannath say their world has been torn apart and they are devastated by the death of their daughter, who died after falling from a water ride in Drayton Manor Theme Park, while on a school trip.

Drayton Manor Theme Park is closed today as a mark of respect for the 11-year-old girl who died.

Yesterday afternoon the girl, who was on the Splash Canyon ride, died after she fell into the water. 

Staff rescued the girl from the water and the emergency services were called - she was airlifted to Birmingham Childrens' Hospital where she died shortly after arriving.   

The park rapids ride has been open since 1993 and is described as "wild, unpredictable and thrilling". The small boats carry up to six passengers. 

The park has been run by the same family since 1949 - the grandson of the founder, who's a current director, was visibly upset when he read the statement yesterday following the girl's death, saying they were "devastated". 

The Leicester school the girl attended describes itself as an indepdent Islamic school for girls.   

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

A photo of the 11-year-old girl who died after falling from a ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park has been released by police.

Evha Jannath, from Leicester, died yesterday after falling from the Splash Canyon ride. 

She was flown by air ambulance to a Birmingham hospital but later died.

Image source, Jannath family

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

The Federation of Muslim Organisations in Leicester has told me they are working with the family of Evha Jannath who died after falling from a ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park. 

Spokesman Suleman Nagdi said there were prayers for the 11-year-old at Jameah Mosque in Leicester last night.

Mr Nagdi, who is also chairman of the Muslim Burial Council,  said it's "part of the grieving process".

He said prayers for the family will continue today and he is requesting the prayers of the congregation as well.

He will join the school head teacher outside Jameah Academy at 11:00 where an updated statement from the school will be read.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Reporter, BBC WM

A mother has contacted the BBC saying her son fell into the water of the Splash Canyon ride in 2013, saying she raised concerns about the ride's safety.

Vikki Treacy (pictured right) said her son Patrick, who was 10 at the time, "sort of stood up" for a photo and toppled from the boat.

Image source, Treacy family

The mother, from Rugby, said: "When you are queuing up, the loud speakers are telling you the safety instructions, like please stay seated.

"[But] they're getting excited and giddy, they're not listening to a tannoy are they?

"[After he fell] I panicked and a woman... in the spectators' bit, hopped over a fence at the side and dragged him out.

"My son was in an area where the public could get to him. It's a dangerous ride. It really is.

"I'll never go back to the park. No way. Their aftercare was shocking."

Image source, ukrides.info

A spokeswoman for Drayton Manor said: "We cannot comment during the ongoing investigation surrounding Splash Canyon other than to say the health and safety of our visitors is of paramount importance and we’d ask Vikki contacts us direct so that we can address her concerns.”

A mother whose son fell into the water at Drayton Manor in 2013, says her complaint was not taken seriously.

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

People living near Jameah Academy in Leicester have told the BBC they're "sad" and "shocked" at the death of Evha Jannath.

The 11-year-old pupil died when she fell out of a circular boat on the Splash Canyon attraction at Drayton Manor Theme Park.

One person told us: "It's sad for everybody. To lose a young life is tragic. It's affected everybody."

Another said: "It's sad for the family, it's sad for the school, it's sad for the community."

BBC Radio 5 live

Health and safety lawyer Chris Green (pictured), from Weightmans Midlands, says he had been on the Splash Canyon ride with his daughters and had never thought it could be dangerous.

Speaking about the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, he said it would need to establish if the accident was a work-related activity.

“They'd be firstly trying to understand from witnesses precisely how this has happened and that will determine whether it's [the HSE acting] in conjunction with police, whether that's a report for the coroner or for other proceedings as well,” he said.

Asked about a comparison between this death and the Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers in 2015, Mr Green said: “The Alton Towers scenario looked more perhaps as if something inevitably... hadn't worked on the day. This one may be rather different.”  

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Reporter, BBC WM

The school which an 11-year-old girl attended has released a statement saying it's been left "deeply shocked" following her death after falling from a ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park.

In a statement released by Jameah Academy in Leicester, external they say "the school will ensure specially trained staff are in school to provide our pupils and staff support at this difficult time".

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

A school in Leicester has said prayers for a Year 6 pupil who died while on a school trip to Drayton Manor Park yesterday.

Jameah Academy will also stay closed today.

A post on the school website said they are "liaising with the relevant authorities" following the girl's death and that they are providing support to pupils and staff affected.

The 11-year-old died after falling from this water ride called Splash Canyon... 

Image source, THEMEPARKS.IE

The theme park's management has also decided to close the park today as "a mark of respect".

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is making inquiries.

BBC Midlands Today

Passengers could be sharing their rail journeys with parcels if a new train carriage being unveiled in the Midlands gets the go-ahead. 

The concept involves collapsible seats and tables which would make space for small items of freight. 

It's claimed the idea could help relieve congestion on the roads and keep fares rises to a minimum. 

The carriage is designed to be used when the rail network isn't busy, such as on late services.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

The 11-year-old girl who died after falling from a ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park has been named as Evha Jannath by Staffordshire Police.

Evha was on a school trip with the Jameah Girls Academy yesterday when she fell from the Splash Canyon ride.

BBC Midlands Today

Drayton Manor Theme Park will remain closed today as an investigation continues into the death of an 11-year-old girl. 

The girl, who was on a school trip from Jameah Academy in Leicester, fell from a water ride at the theme park near Tamworth. 

She was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital by air ambulance but died shortly after arriving.