Theme park to remain closed after death of schoolgirl Evha Jannath
Video report by ITV News Reporter Ben Chapman
A theme park in the West Midlands is to remain closed for a second day following the death of an 11-year-old girl who fell from a water ride.
Evha Jannath from Leicester was on a school trip to Drayton Manor Theme Park with teachers from the Jameah Girls Academy on Tuesday when she fell out of a boat on the theme park's Splash Canyon ride.
Her family have said their world has been "torn apart" by the loss of their "beautiful little girl who was full of love and always smiling."
Her parents said they were "devastated" at what had happened and words "cannot describe the pain and loss" they felt.
Evha's family also requested that the ride is suspended until the inquiry has concluded and the "full facts" are established.
In a statement the park said the events on Tuesday had "shaken the whole Drayton Manor family from the Board, through to staff and visitors.
"We would like to extend our thanks to the emergency services for everything they did yesterday.
"The park will be closed on Thursday, to allow the Health and Safety Executive to complete their work.
"Our thoughts are with the family and all those who have been affected by Tuesday’s incident," it said.
Police officially confirmed the schoolgirl's identity in a statement released on Wednesday and said her family were being supported by specially trained officers.
Evha was airlifted to hospital after emergency services were called to the Splash Canyon ride at around 2.20pm on Tuesday afternoon but died after being taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Her school, as well as the theme park, said they will remain closed on Wednesday as a mark of respect.
Zainab Mohammad, whose 16-year-old sister went on the trip, said the tight-knit school community had been left devastated by the news of Evha's death.
She said: "It's tragic. It shouldn't happen. We don't know what the cause is but what we really want is for the family to be able to grieve."
In a statement Jameah Girls Academy, made assurances to parents that "the safety and well being of our pupils is our foremost priority" and said: "As a school community, we are deeply shocked and our thoughts are with our pupil's family and friends."
Speaking outside the school on Wednesday headteacher headteacher Erfana Bora described Evha as a "lovely, sweet-natured girl" who was loved by everyone.
Also speaking outside the school Suleman Nagdi, from the Federation of Muslim Organisations, told ITV News the community has "cemented together" to help support Evha's family.
He said: "I think it will take quite a while for people to adjust to what has taken place."
The boat ride which Evha was on, promoted on Drayton Manor's website as "a wild ride" with "fast-flowing rapids", was closed immediately after her fall and officials have confirmed that a Health and Safety Executive investigation has now begun.