Girl, aged 5, killed when tree fell on her in Mile End Park

Mile End Park   Pic David Anstiss

Mile End Park   Pic David Anstiss

A five-year-old girl has died in a freak accident after a tree fell on her in Mile End Park, Tower Hamlets.

Alexia Walenkaki suffered severe head injuries when the trunk of the tree being used for a rope swing snapped and fell. Her mother Vida Kwotuah was watching as Alexia played with friends in the park on Friday evening.

Police and ambulance crew rushed to the scene to find the schoolgirl in cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the Royal London Hospital where she died later that evening.

A spokesman for the Met Police said that at this stage officers believe a tree fell on the girl, who comes from Poplar and was due to celebrate her sixth birthday on Saturday. A post-mortem will take place on July 22.

The police sent out a couple of tweets after the death of Alexia Walenkaki

The police sent out a couple of tweets after the death of Alexia Walenkaki

The local neighbourhood policing team turned to social media to dismiss rumours that her death was caused by a violent assault. “We would like to express our sincerest condolences to the family of Alexia Walenkaki who tragically died in Mile End Park on Friday.

“We are aware of rumours/speculation that this was a violent assault. This is not true and would ask, out of respect, that rumours stop.”

Officers working alongside the Health and Safety Executive are carrying out a joint investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

The police have requested anybody who saw the accident to call 020 8345 3715.

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