Children’s summer fun days cancelled in East End after Alexia’s fatal accident
Scene of tragedy at Mile End playpark - Credit: Archant
Three summer of events have been cancelled at a children’s playground in London’s East End which has been marred by tragedy where a five-year-old girl died.
Scene of tragedy at Mile End playpark - Credit: Archant
The playground at Locksley Street in Limehouse, off Burdett Road, has been closed since July 17 while an investigation continues by the Heath & safety Executive and the police into the tragedy which cost little Alexia Walenkaki her life.
The first of the popular annual events cancelled by Tower Hamlets Council was today’s fun ‘Cardboard City” where youngsters build houses out of cardboard.
Also scrapped are the ‘Active Summer’ fun day due to be held tomorrow and the annual Water Festival where kids splash around, scheduled for August 10.
But the ‘Day by the Seaside’ where a huge beach is created with tonnes of sand due to be held on August 19 has been relocated to Bethnal Green Gardens in Cambridge Heath Road.
Scene of tragedy at Mile End playpark - Credit: Archant
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“Mile End playpark is likely to remain closed to the public for several weeks,” a Town Hall spokesman told the East London Advertiser. “We are unable for now to give a date for reopening.
“Following the tragic death of Alexia Walenkaki, we are working with the Health and Safety Executive and Metropolitan Police to investigate what happened.”
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The investigation is looking into the circumstances when a wooden pole suddenly collapsed on a climbing frame Alexia and her three playmates were swinging on.
The children fell off, but seemed unharmed, an eye-witness said, when the half-suspended pole fell down and hit Alexia on the back of the head.
Scene of tragedy at Mile End playpark - Credit: Archant
The little girl’s mother, Vida Kwotuah, and another woman tried keeping her conscious while talking to paramedics on a mobile phone before the ambulance arrived, but the child died two hours later at the Royal London Hospital.
Alexia, who would have been six the next day, went to Stepney Greencoat Church of England Primary, where a special school assembly was held last week. The family, from nearby Carr Street, were regular churchgoers at St Dunstan’s in Stepney.