Girl dies after going missing at Windsor water park

Flowers were laid outside Liquid Leisure Windsor on Sunday morning

An 11-year-old girl has died after going missing at a water sports and activity park.

Police were called to the lake at Liquid Leisure Windsor in Datchet, Berkshire, about 15.55 BST on Saturday after the child got into difficulty.

She was found more than an hour later by emergency services and was rushed to hospital, but later died.

Members of the public who went into the water to look for her have been praised for their bravery.

Thames Valley Police said her death is being treated as unexplained and an investigation has been launched.

The water park, in Datchet, Berkshire, has an obstacle course

Supt Michael Greenwood said: "This has been an extremely traumatic and upsetting incident for all involved."

Several members of the public got into the lake shortly after she got into difficulty "but were unable to locate her", he said.

"I would like to commend them for their courage and bravery," he added.

People leaving flowers outside Liquid Leisure on Sunday afternoon

A mother-of-two, who did not want to be named, was at the water park when the girl went missing.

She said lifeguards and friends of the girl's family ran along the lake shouting her name at about 15:45.

"I later learnt that they were hoping she'd somehow managed to make it back to the shoreline and was in shock or passed out," the woman said.

"They were asking all of us to shout her name, describing her as shoulder height on an adult, with shoulder-length brown hair."

She said between 30 and 40 people - lifeguards and other swimmers - jumped into the water to look for the girl before emergency services arrived.

"As the situation unfolded, with every minute that passed by you could see the rising panic amongst the onlookers," the woman added.

The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and South Central Ambulance Service joined police officers at the site.

The National Police Air Service was also involved in the search, although it is not clear exactly where the girl was found.

The girl's family have been informed and they are being supported by officers.

The water park is closed on Sunday following the girl's death

Supt Greenwood, the local policing area commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, offered his "sincere condolences" and requested that the privacy of the girl's family be "respected".

He said: "We are in the early stages of investigating this incident to understand the full circumstances."

Liquid Leisure Windsor describes itself as home to "Europe's largest aqua park", with a floating obstacle course on the lake.

It also has outdoor activities including wakeboarding, open water swimming and boat rides.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the company said it would be closed on Sunday.

It said its thoughts were with all those affected "by this desperately tragic and upsetting incident".

Liquid Leisure Windsor added it would not be right to comment further while police are in the early stages of an investigation, but it would "continue to fully support and assist them throughout the process".