A seven-year-old girl who died after a tree collapsed in Chalkwell Park has been named as Leonna Ruka, described by her heartbroken family as “the light in their lives”.
Leonna, from Dagenham, had been visiting family in Southend on Saturday 28 June when the tragedy occurred. She was among several children enjoying the warm summer weather in the popular park when, shortly before 3pm, part of a large tree suddenly gave way.
Multiple children were caught underneath heavy branches. Members of the public rushed to help before police, ambulance and fire crews arrived at the scene.
Leonna was taken to hospital with serious injuries but tragically died later that day. A six-year-old girl from Southend remains in hospital in critical condition. Three other children suffered minor injuries.
In a moving statement, Leonna’s family said:
“It is with broken hearts and unimaginable pain that we share the devastating loss of our beloved daughter Leonna – our beautiful, bright, and loving little girl, taken from us far too soon.
“Leonna was more than just a child – she was a light in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the joy of meeting her.
“She was an intelligent and curious soul, full of energy and creativity. A little girl who was always exploring, always asking questions, always dreaming.
“She had a heart full of love and a mind full of endless ideas. She was funny, kind, and full of life – a shining star who brought happiness wherever she went and she met.
“From the moment she walked into a room, she would light it up. She had this rare gift of making everyone feel special and loved. There was something truly unique and unforgettable about her.
“Every person she met was left with only beautiful impressions and a warm feeling in their heart. She was the kind of girl who gave love without asking for anything in return.
“She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair. Leonna had so many dreams – dreams that now remain unfinished.
“Our hearts ache knowing how much life she had ahead of her, how much joy she could have brought to this world. We will never stop wondering who she would have become, but we will forever carry who she was.
“We would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has supported us – our family, our friends, our community, and all those who stood with us in Southend and beyond.
“Your kindness, your prayers, and your presence have meant more than we could ever express. In our deepest sorrow, you reminded us that we are not alone.
“We are incredibly grateful for every candle lit, every flower placed, every tear shared in her memory.
“The outpouring of love for our daughter has brought us comfort in ways we never imagined possible.
“As we try to navigate this unimaginable pain, we kindly ask for privacy.
“This is a time of deep mourning and reflection for our family.
“We need space to grieve, to remember our precious Leonna, and to begin the slow and painful process of healing.
“Leonna will live forever in our hearts – in every laugh, every sunbeam, every act of kindness we see in the world. We were so lucky to have had her, even if only for a short time.
“Thank you for holding her in your hearts.”
On Monday 30 June, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and Southend City Council representatives gathered in Chalkwell Park to lay flowers and observe a moment of reflection. Tributes were also left by local residents throughout the weekend.
Support is being provided to emergency service personnel who responded to the incident.
Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris said:
“All of our hearts break for Leonna and her family. To lose a child in any circumstance is unthinkable, to lose a child in this terrible way defies all belief.
“Everyone – from my officers and staff, to ambulance, fire and council colleagues, to the public of Southend and across the country – is struggling to come to terms with what happened on Saturday.
“We are all hoping for a positive outcome in relation to the little girl who remains in hospital. Her family continue to receive support and our thoughts are with her.
“The support we’ve received and the sentiment shared by the public over the past few days has been the only positive I can draw from this.
“The actions of those in the park who immediately did all they could to help are a continual reminder of the true spirit of the city of Southend.
“I thank everyone for the overwhelming messages of support for the families impacted.”
She added:
“It is understandable that speculation follows in the wake of such a tragic incident. There is a full and independent police investigation underway. This will take time. We will update on the outcome of these enquiries as soon as we possibly can.
“Until then, I’d ask that the public remember how harmful potentially unsubstantiated commentary can be. There will be a time and a place for the facts around what led to this incident to be explored in a public forum.
“Our investigation is still at a relatively early stage and, as desperately as people want answers, I’d please urge patience.”
A designated memorial area remains in Chalkwell Park for those who wish to leave flowers or tributes.
A fundraising page has also been launched in Leonna’s memory: https://gofund.me/43aa91da
Donations will support both Leonna’s family and the family of the six-year-old girl who remains in critical condition.