Girl, 12, drowns on school trip to French activity centre
A BRITISH schoolgirl has died while swimming in a lake during a school trip to central France.
Jessica Lawson, 12, from Hull, is thought to have been among a group jumping off a pontoon which overturned, leaving some children trapped underneath.
A lifeguard pulled her out of the water unconscious when it was noticed she was missing. She was revived by paramedics and taken by helicopter to a hospital in Limoges, where she died.
The rescue may have been delayed because it was initially believed that all the children had been pulled out of the water.
Jessica, who attended Wolfreton School, was on a six-day trip to the Activ4 Adventure Centre in Meymac, near Limoges, where children are able to take part in activities such as kayaking and climbing.
French prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation to determine whether there was negligence by the organisers or the adventure centre.
‘I can only begin to imagine the pain felt by her parents and family at her death at such a young age’
The camp was packed at the time of the accident. It attracts crowds of tourists in summer, and is especially popular with school parties.
Twenty four students and three staff were taking part in the trip.
The girl’s parents, Tony and Brenda, and older sister Polly have travelled to the scene of the accident.
Dave McCready, the school’s headmaster, said: “As a parent myself, I can only begin to imagine the pain felt by her parents and family at her death at such a young age.
“As you would expect, the news of this terrible tragedy has come as a dreadful shock to our whole school community and we will continue to liaise with the appropriate bodies to provide ongoing support to the family and also to other students and staff who will be deeply affected by this tragic news.”
The French authorities have issued a series of warnings over a record number of drownings since a heatwave began in June. More than 115 people have died in the sea, lakes, rivers and pools in France this summer.