SCHOOL TRIP GIRL, 11, DIES AT THEME PARK
TRAGEDY Our front page
THE parents of a girl who died after falling from a ride at a theme park while on a school trip say their world has been “torn apart”.
Evha Jannath, 11, was killed when she plunged into the water on the Splash Canyon rapids at Drayton Manor.
An investigation is under way into how she died, amid claims park bosses had previously been warned the attraction was unsafe, after a 10-year-old boy also fell in.
Evha, who attended an Islamic girls’ school in Leicester, was airlifted to hospital after being pulled from the water by staff.
But tragically the youngster, could not be saved by medics.
Classmates from the feepaying Jame’ah Girls Academy are being offered counselling after witnessing the tragedy.
Evha’s parents Muhammed Islam, 47, and Musammath Nahar, 43, were yesterday being comforted by friends.
In a statement, they said: “Our world was torn apart by the news that our daughter and sister Evha had lost her life in tragic circumstances.
“Evha was a beautiful little girl, who was full of love and always smiling. Words cannot describe the pain and loss...”
Headteacher of Jame’ah Girls Academy Erfana Bora described Evha as a “lovely and sweet-natured girl who was loved by everyone”.
Evha was on a raft with four classmates on Tuesday and, according to a witness, she vanished “in an instant” after standing up to move seats.
A mum claimed she warned park bosses Splash Canyon was an “accident waiting to happen” four years ago, after her son was thrown in.
Vikki Treacy said Patrick, 10, was flung into the water when the boat struck a rock as he stood up to pose for a photo.
Vikki, 46, from Rugby, Warks, said: “The boat banged into the side edges of the canyon and he was tipped out head first under the water.”
A woman visitor pulled the youngster from the water.
Vikki added: “Patrick was just very lucky that day.”