Stoke and Staffordshire latest live updates Friday 12 May 2017

Summary

Updates from Friday 12 May 2017

Live Reporting

Drayton Manor: Director to give statementpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
One of the theme park's directors will be delivering a press conference in the next ten minutes.
An 11-year-old girl from the Leicester area who was on a school trip has died after falling into the water at one of the rides.
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Drayton Manor: More eyewitness images of the air ambulance over theme parkpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
A girl has died after she fell from a ride at a theme park in Staffordshire, police say.
The Splash Canyon at Drayton Manor has been closed following the incident.
Staffordshire Police has confirmed that the girl was on a school trip to the park.
These pictures were taken by Tom Goodwin.
Media caption,
Air Ambulance over Drayton Manor
Drayton Park death: Family request privacypublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
The family of an 11-year-old girl who died while on a school trip at Drayton Manor theme park have requested that their wishes for privacy are respected at this difficult time.
The girl was rescued from the water by park staff and airlifted to a hospitral in Birmingham, but could not be saved, the ambulance service say.
Drayton Manor: 11-year-old girl rescued from water by theme park staff but could not be savedpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, crews discovered a girl with serious injuries who had been rescued from the water by park staff.
"Ambulance staff administered advanced life support before she was flown to Birmingham Children's Hospital with the doctor continuing treatment en-route.
"Unfortunately, shortly after arrival at hospital the girl passed away."
Supt Carl Ratcliffe, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Specially-trained officers are supporting the girl's family at this difficult time.
"Our thoughts are very much with her family and friends following this tragic incident."
Drayton Manor: 11-year-old girl has diedpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Breaking
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
The 11-year-old girl who fell into water at Drayon Manor theme park has died this afternoon, police have said.
Drayton Manor: Eye witness footage of air ambulance circling the theme parkpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Dale Hicks caught this footage of the air ambulance hovering over the theme park earlier on Tuesday.
An 11-year-old girl from the Leicesters area has been airlifted to hospital after falling into the water, police say.
Media caption,
Drayton Manor eye witness captures emergency scenes at theme park
Girl was on school trippublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Breaking
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
Staffordshire Police have confirmed the 11-year-old girl who has been air-lifted to hospital was on a school trip.
Drayton Manor: Water rescue experts were sent to theme parkpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it was called to Drayton Manor after it was reported a person "had fallen into the water from the ride" at around 14:20 today.
The first appliance from Tamworth arrived just before 2.35pm, the service said, followed by the water rescue unit from Tamworth, and crews from Lichfield and Erdington.
An 11-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital after falling into the water, police say.
The Splash Canyon ride has been closed by the park.
Drayton Manor: Eye witness speaks of 'panic' and 'upset staff'published at 17:25 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Jadey Braham was at the theme park when an 11-year-old girl fell into the water.
She said: "We were just leaving the 4D cinema when we saw the ambulances come racing past.
"At first nobody knew what was going on and I think there was a bit of a panic as to why the police were there.
"But then... we got told somebody fell out of the rapids - the Splash Canyon - and into the water.
"I'm not sure how serious it was, but many of the staff members were very upset."
Drayton Manor: Media await statementpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
Members of the media have assembled in a conference room at the Drayton Manor hotel to await more details from today's incident.
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Drayton Manor: Promise of a 'wild ride' on 'fast-flowing rapids' on water ride, closed after 'incident'published at 17:10 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
The Splash Canyon ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire remains closed following "an incident."
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to reports of a "patient in the water" at 14:18.
Staffordshire Police say a girl, believed to be an 11-years-old from the Leicester area, external, has been airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Image source, Google
The water ride is described as "a wild ride" with "fast-flowing rapids".
The theme park website description adds: "Swerve around corners, splash through the waves, and get soaked as your boat is swept along our fast-flowing rapids. No two experiences are ever the same.
"You'll feel like you're in the middle of the jungle as you speed, bounce, and splash your way around our river, past other rides and through the trees, experiencing the most unpredictable and thrilling of river rapid rides. It's called Splash Canyon for a reason."
The Health and Safety Executive say it is "aware" of the situation.
Drayton Manor: Safety body 'aware' of incidentpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
The Health and Safety Executive has tweeted it is "aware" of the incident involving an 11-year-old-girl who's been airlifted to hospital after falling into the water at a ride in the theme park.
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Drayton Manor: Press await statement after girl airlifted to hospitalpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM
All press have been shown to a conference room in hotel for statement.
The park is still open for people here already.
Drayton Manor: Background on the theme parkpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
The theme park near Tamworth opened in 1950. Then, it had one restaurant, a tea-room, three hand-operated rides and a set of second-hand dodgem cars.
The man who founded and owned Drayton Manor Park Theme Park, George Bryan, died in 2013, aged 92.
These days it's home to a 15-acre zoo and more than 40 rides and attractions.
Image caption,
George Bryan and his wife Vera opened Drayton Manor Theme Park in 1950
There is also a four-star hotel on the site with a number of restaurants and 140 rooms.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Liberty X filming at Drayton Manor Theme Park
The park has won a number of visitor attraction awards over the years and has also entertained celebrity guests.
Drayton Manor: What do we know about Splash Canyon?published at 16:32 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
An 11-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital after falling from a water ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park, police say.
Staffordshire Police confirmed the girl was hurt after she fell from the Splash Canyon water ride at the Tamworth-based attraction.
·          The ride opened in 1993
·          It is described as a river rapids ride on circular boats
·          It comprises 21 boats with a maximum capacity of six people per boat
·          There is a height restriction. You must be taller than 90cms (2.9ft) to ride and anyone shorter than 1.1m (3.6ft) must be accompanied by an adult
Image source, Google
Drayton Manor: Safety watchdog 'informed about incident'published at 16:26 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
The industrial watchdog, the Health and Safety Executive, has been informed of the ongoing situation at Drayton Manor theme park, where an 11-year-old girl from Leicester has fallen into the water, police say.
Drayton Manor theme park: 'More details when available'published at 16:23 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
West Midlands Ambulance Service says "more details will follow when available" about the ongoing situation at Drayton Manor.
A patient went into the water at the Tamworth attraction at around 14:18, prompting the closure of the Splash Canyon ride.
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Drayton Manor: Leicester girl airlifted to hospital after water fallpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Supt Carl Ratcliffe, of Staffordshire Police, says the girl who has fallen into the water is from Leicester and she has been airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Her parents have been informed, say police.
Image source, Yasmin Braham
Drayton Manor theme park: Park tweets ride closed following 'incident'published at 16:12 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Drayton Manor tweeted earlier that ride Splash Canyon had been closed following an incident.
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Drayton Manor theme park: An 11-year-old girl has fallen into the waterpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 9 May 2017
Breaking
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
An 11-year-old girl has fallen from the Splash Canyon ride into the water at Drayton Manor theme park, say Staffordshire Police.