Leah Harrison: Park Authority issues statement
The 10 year old was tragically killed during a mudslide on the edge of the North York Moors
Last updated 4th Jun 2024
A park authority's stressed rangers can cannot eliminate land risks completely following the death of Darlington's Leah Harrison who died in a mudslide.
In a statement, the North York Moors National Park authority says there is no such thing as zero risk - despite land being actively managed to be as safe as it can be.
The 10 year old passed away last month (May) during a walk with a council-run outdoor education centre.
Joel Brookfield, Director of Recreation and Wellbeing at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:
"Staff at the North York Moors National Park Authority were hugely saddened to hear of the tragic incident at Carlton Bank and our thoughts are with Leah’s family and friends.
"We can confirm that the incident took place on an area of land which is Open Access, rather than on a Right of Way. This means that walkers are free to explore the space without sticking to marked paths or trails; the majority of moorland across the National Park, along with many areas of woodland, fall under this category.
"Even on Rights of Way that are inspected regularly, there is no such thing as zero risk. The Cleveland Way National Trail is a prime example of this, as despite being actively managed to be as safe as it can be, its 109 miles covers remote expanses, steep gradients and dynamic coastal cliffs. Rangers and others work to counter risks that are reasonably foreseeable, but they cannot eliminate them completely.
"We would like to reassure schools and parents that National Parks are safe and important places for outdoor learning. Many thousands of visits take place each year, allowing young people to engage with nature, build confidence and explore topics of great importance to the world today.
"Organisers are always recommended to look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing providers, demonstrating a high level of risk management and educational provision."