Schoolgirl's mudslide death investigation closed

An investigation into the death of a 10-year-old girl killed in a mudslide during a school trip has concluded with no further action to be taken.

Leah Harrison, a Year 6 pupil at Mount Pleasant Primary School in Darlington, died during a residential trip in May at Carlton Adventure in Carlton-in-Cleveland, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

The investigation was taken over by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in October, which found no-one at fault.

Nick Blackburn, chief executive of the Lingfield Education Trust, said the news had come "as a huge relief to everyone concerned".

The accident, at the Hartlepool Borough Council-owned site, happened during one of the centre's instructor-led forest walks at a time when a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place.

A spokesperson for HSE said it carried out "a thorough investigation" and met Leah's family "to inform them that our investigation has concluded and we will take no further action".

A council spokesperson said the local authority's "thoughts remain with all those affected" but it would be "inappropriate" to comment further while an inquest is yet to take place.

Leah, described by her family as a "happy, bubbly, go-lucky little girl" with a "beautiful smile", was one of a number of pupils on the trip, which followed the conclusion of SAT tests the previous week.

Mr Blackburn said now the investigation was over he wished "to repeat my condolences to Leah's family and thank them for their support of the school community in the face of their grief".

He also thanked headteacher Jo Blackham who he said "tried so hard to save Leah".

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