Mother tells of park zip wire collapse that killed daughter, 5
POLICE are investigating the death of a five-year-old girl who was injured in a zip wire accident at a park.
Officers believe Alexia Walenkaki was hurt when a tree the wire was attached to collapsed in Mile End Park, east London.
Her mother, Vida Kwotuah, 43, told how she ran screaming towards her daughter when the tree trunk came down.
The mother-of-two, from Poplar, east London, said: “She was playing with three other girls in the play area and just a few minutes before it happened, she came and sat on my lap and we were chatting.
“She had a drink and I told her we were going to leave in 15 minutes so not to go far. She said ‘OK mummy’ and ran back towards the play area. She loved being at the park, we went around five times a week.
“I was watching her every move. I sat where I could see her and keep an eye on her. All of a sudden I see this log falling down and I started screaming.”
Police were called just after 5.30pm on Friday and attended the scene with the London Ambulance Service, who found the girl in cardiac arrest.
She was taken to Royal London Hospital, in east London, where she died at 6.43pm.
A post mortem examination will take place tomorrow and a joint investigation has been launched by the Metropolitan Police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Scotland Yard said their investigation will be led by detectives from the homicide and major crime command, due to the complex circumstances surrounding the incident.
Alexia’s school, Stepney Greencoat Church of England Primary, held an assembly in her memory yesterday. Tributes were left at the scene.
A Tower Hamlets Council spokesman said: “The council would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the family involved.”