Eight-week-old girl dies during a family outing to safari park
A BABY died yesterday after suffering a cardiac arrest at a safari park.
The girl, thought to be around eight weeks old, stopped breathing while on a family Easter outing.
Staff at the West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley, near Worcester, tried to resuscitate the infant until paramedics and emergency services including an air ambulance arrived.
She was taken to hospital but police confirmed later she had died. Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances and it is understood her death was not linked to any of the animals.
It is understood the girl fell ill close to the penguin enclosure shortly after 11.20am.
Visitor Melanie Cresswell, who watched the tragedy unfold, said: ‘Walking in to see this happening was the worst thing ever, can’t even begin to imagine what the parents were going through.’
On Facebook, she added: ‘As a parent of a heart warrior (child with a congenital heart defect) this truly affected me but well done to the amazing staff [they] gave the family privacy... utmost respect to the person giving CPR you truly are a hero xx.’
Dave Bowker, who was also at the park, wrote: ‘The staff were amazing, performed their emergency roles very well. Very sad time for the family involved.’
The park’s Discovery Trail sec- tion was closed off for up to an hour while first aid trained staff, plus an off-duty doctor, assisted police and paramedics with the emergency. Witnesses said an air ambulance was at the park for around 40 minutes. Inspector Gurjit Singh, of West Mercia police, said: ‘ Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the girl at this tragic time. Police officers are offering them support. I would like to thank staff and visitors for their support and understanding while emergency services attended to the girl. I would request the family’s privacy is respected at this time.’
The safari park, which first opened in 1973, was packed with Easter visitors.
The attraction has recently launched a £1million ice age display and holds more than 165 species. West Midland Safari Park said in a statement: ‘Park staff have dealt with an incident where a baby was taken ill and suffered a cardiac arrest.
‘Trained park staff immediately attended and provided care until emergency services arrived and took charge of the situation. Our thoughts are with the family at this time.’
In February, the exit gate to the park’s lion enclosure was closed temporarily after ‘agitated’ lionesses charged a car.
‘The worst thing ever’