Leonna Ruka dies in fatal Southend-on-Sea tree collapse.
Fatal Southend-on-Sea tree collapse death of Leonna Ruka.
On the morning of June 28th, a substantial limb severed from a tree at Chalkwell Park, located in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and landed on five youngsters. Initial reports indicated that the branch descended, trapping the children beneath its considerable weight. Among those affected was a six-year-old girl who suffered life-threatening injuries and ultimately did not survive. Tragically, her seven-year-old cousin, Leonna Ruka, who was visiting her relatives in the area, succumbed to her injuries. Police confirmed that the girl remains in a hospital facility but her condition has now been upgraded from critical. Eyewitnesses recounted that upwards of fifty individuals attempted to manually lift the fallen branch in a desperate effort to rescue the trapped children. Three other young people received medical attention for relatively minor harm.
Leonna was in the region to visit her family, who released a heartfelt statement following the incident. They characterized her as “a beacon of light” to those around them. The family conveyed their profound gratitude for the outpouring of support and remembrance from the community, including numerous floral arrangements and children’s gifts left nearby. Further details were provided regarding the tree itself, identified as a cedar species, and estimated to be approximately three hundred and fifty years old. A local official mentioned that metal supports had been placed beneath several lower branches for many years, though officials are still examining the circumstances to determine if this played a role. Essex Police are continuing their investigation into the events of that day.
