Young girl dies after falling into Kidderminster canal (From Malvern Gazette)

Young girl dies after falling into Kidderminster canal

8:15am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Catherine Phillips, Reporter

A SIX-year-old girl has died after falling into a canal in Kidderminster last night.

Investigations are continuing after the girl and another boy and girl, also believed to be six, fell into the water at just before 6.20pm in Springfield Park near the Wolverley Court lock.

It appears that two of the children managed to get themselves out of the water but the third child was in the water for some time before being rescued.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said she was in cardiac arrest when they arrived and desperate resuscitation efforts were carried out.

The three children were all rushed to hospital but sadly the six-year-old girl was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The two other children were treated for hypothermia and taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

They are expected to make a full recovery.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell, Police Commander in North Worcestershire, said: "Our investigation into this tragic incident is continuing this morning and we are working hard to establish exactly how the girl came to be in the water.

"The family of the six-year-old are absoloutely devastated by their loss and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time.

"Out of respect for the dead girl's family, we will not be confirming her identity at this early stage but there may be further updates later in the day.

"At the present time there is nothing further we can add about this matter."