Girl who died after tree collapsed in Southend park had 'heart full of love', family say

A seven-year-old girl who died after a tree partially collapsed at a park in Essex has been named.

Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham in east London, died in hospital after being caught beneath the tree at Chalkwell Park in Southend shortly before 3pm on Saturday.

Her family described her as "the light in their lives", in a statement.

"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," they said.

"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 among a number of children who became trapped.

Essex Police said a second girl, aged six, remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Another three children suffered minor injuries.

Essex Police said it is investigating the "circumstances around the collapse of the tree".

Witnesses described the scene as "heartbreaking" and how 40 to 50 people had tried to lift up the fallen tree.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.