Kidderminster canal death girl named as Imie Harrison (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster canal death girl named as Imie Harrison

12:19pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Becky Carr

THE six-year-old girl who died after falling into a canal in Kidderminster has been named as Imie Harrison.

Emergency services were called to an the incident just before 6.20pm last night following reports that three children, all aged six, had fallen into the canal at Springfield Park - near the Wolverley Court Lock.

Supt Kevin Purcell, police commander in North Worcestershire, today told a press conference: “As we understand it, there were four children playing by the canal. An incident occured that meant two of them went in, a third child went in after them.”

The alarm was raised by one of the children going back to the family home and the police were alerted to the incident by an adult.

Supt Purcell added: “Imie’s twin brother was there and part of raising the alarm.”

Two of the children had managed to get themselves out of the water by the time the emergency services arrived but Imie was in the water for some time before being rescued.

Supt Purcell added that Imie, who had been in cardiac arrest, was pulled out of the river by a member of the public as well as a police officer.

All three children were rushed to hospital and Imie was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The two other children, a boy and a girl, were treated for hypothermia but are expected to make a full recovery.

Supt Purcell added: “The scene is a distance from the children’s houses but it’s somewhere that’s walkable. Make sure you know where your children are and that they are absolutely supervised.”

“This appears to be an extremely tragic accident at this stage and our thoughts are with Imie’s family, who are absolutely devastated by her death. I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time.

“Our investigation into this incident is continuing today and we are working hard to establish exactly how Imie came to be in the water.

“We will be working closely alongside partner agencies, including Children Services at the local authority, to support pupils from Imie’s school in Kidderminster. Safer Neighbourhoods Team will also be visible in the area to help the community come to terms with this tragic incident.”

Gail Quinton, director of Children's Services for Worcestershire County Council said: “We would like to express our deepest sympathy for family and friends following the tragic death last night of Imie Harrison.

“Worcestershire County Council's Children's Services are working very closely with the police to support the investigation and also the school to support pupils and staff at this very sad and difficult time.”