Serious Incident - Chalkwell Park

Update at 9.30pm

Essex Police have issued a statement which says:

A child has sadly died and another is in a critical condition in hospital following an incident at a park in Southend.

Shortly before 3pm on Saturday 28 June, it was reported a tree had partially collapsed In Chalkwell Park.

A number of children were caught beneath the tree and suffered injuries.

The park was busy with members of the public and many immediately went to their aid.

Officers, paramedics and firefighters were soon on the scene and provided care.

You can read more on this here. 

Our Area Manager Dan Partridge said: 

"Our hearts are with the family and friends of the child who sadly died, and our thoughts and condolences go out to everyone involved.

We’d like to thank everyone who was in the park today for their efforts to help with this tragic incident. We echo the words of our police colleagues who are absolutely right in saying the people who helped showed the very best of Southend today.

Our crews have now left the scene, and we will be supporting them following this difficult day."

We are at the scene of a serious incident in Chalkwell Park working with ambulance and police colleagues.

We were called just before 3pm today to reports of a large fallen tree. There have been a number of casualties and our work is on-going. 

Our Urban Search and Rescue Team is in attendance alongside firefighters and officers. 

We would ask the public to avoid the area while our work continues.