Police give update on Berkshire water park death
An 11-year-old girl died after disappearing from view at the liquid leisure venue at Datchet last weekend
Last updated 9th Aug 2022
Police say the unexplained death of a girl after she got into difficulty at Liquid Leisure near Windsor is not suspicious.
An investigation was launched following the incident at the water park in Horton Road, at Datchet, on Saturday (6/8).
The death is now being treated as unexplained but non-suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
Officers are also working with officers from Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead council as they conduct an investigation to determine any potential breaches under relevant health and safety legislation.
The victim’s next of kin continue to be offered support by officers.
Detective Inspector Stuart May, based at Windsor police station, said:
“The thoughts of everyone at Thames Valley Police continue to be with the victim’s loved ones after such a tragic incident.
“We have conducted a thorough investigation and have not identified any suspicious circumstances so a file will be prepared for the coroner.
“We have been liaising with the council’s officers who will now take over responsibility for the investigation to determine any potential breaches under relevant health and safety legislation.
“Once again, I would ask that the victim’s family and friends’ privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.”
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead said:
"This is a tragic incident and our thoughts and deepest condolences go to the family and friends of the girl during this most difficult time.
“We have been liaising with the police during their stage of the investigation.
“We are now taking over responsibility and conducting a health and safety investigation to determine any potential breaches under relevant health and safety legislation.”
Liquid Leisure said:
“We have decided to remain closed for the remainder of the week out of respect for all the families involved.”
It comes after Windsor and Maidenhead Council said it had issued the business with an enforcement notice in December 2020 after it expanded the site without planning permission.
A spokesman said: “Regarding Liquid Leisure, the council issued an enforcement notice in December 2020 because the council consider that a material change of use had occurred without planning permission – from water-skiing and windsurfing use to mixed use that comprises an aqua theme park, caravan and camping site, party venue and a child’s play centre, facilitated by extensive unauthorised works in the Green Belt, a flood zone and local wildlife site.
“We’ve previously invited Liquid Leisure to regularise their position by making a planning application for a reduced-scale enterprise which would reduce the harm that has been identified; however, the business is appealing against our enforcement notice.”
A public inquiry into the matter is to begin on November 8.
Messages
Flowers and messages were seen outside Liquid Leisure’s closed gates on Tuesday as tributes poured in following the girl’s death.
One read: “To a beautiful little girl. I hope you know how hard everyone tried to save you.
“You were just too beautiful for this world. You will always be the brightest star in the night sky forever 11″.
Another said: “RIP little angel, lots of love the Morgans xx.”
Witness
A 41-year-old woman from South Buckinghamshire, who did not want to be named, was at the “busy” water park with her teenage daughter on Saturday, having been several times before.
She said the situation was “an absolute tragedy” for the family and friends of the girl, while she and others at the park felt “shock” and “helplessness” at the scene.
She said some people were not wearing life jackets and that lifeguards were not paying attention.
The woman told the PA news agency: “We then realised a child was missing as two frantic women ran past screaming the child’s name.
“There seemed to be no plan of action with the LL staff. A few lifeguards jumped into the water and started searching in what appeared to be a very non-methodical way.
“Another member of staff started asking other members of staff if they were lifeguard-trained. No-one appeared to be in charge and there was no co-ordination in managing the situation.
“For the adults and children left on the riverside, we didn’t know what to do, there was no communication and no evacuation procedure.
“There is one small entrance and exit at LL and the emergency services arrived quickly and in huge numbers, they couldn’t have done more.
“But because we weren’t told what to do and didn’t want to block their efforts of coming into the park, we just stood by and witnessed the search and rescue divers looking in the water.
“Afterwards my daughter commented that she didn’t feel safe on the inflatable – there were areas which had deflated and gaps between obstacles which anyone could have easily slipped down, leaving them underneath the inflatable.”