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Teenage girl dies in sledge crash | Teenage girl dies in sledge crash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A teenage girl has died after suffering serious head injuries when a makeshift sledge crashed in South Yorkshire. | A teenage girl has died after suffering serious head injuries when a makeshift sledge crashed in South Yorkshire. |
Francesca Anobile, 16, of Mosborough, Sheffield, was among five girls hurt in the incident at Rother Valley Country Park, near Killamarsh, on Tuesday. | Francesca Anobile, 16, of Mosborough, Sheffield, was among five girls hurt in the incident at Rother Valley Country Park, near Killamarsh, on Tuesday. |
She was airlifted to hospital in Sheffield, where she later died. | She was airlifted to hospital in Sheffield, where she later died. |
Her friend Nikki Burns, also 16 and from Sheffield, was seriously injured. Another 17-year-old girl is being treated for head and leg injuries. | |
The two other girls, both aged 16, were treated for minor injuries and later discharged from hospital. | |
South Yorkshire Police described the accident as "a tragic sledging incident". | South Yorkshire Police described the accident as "a tragic sledging incident". |
Sue Simmons, head teacher at Westfield Sports College where Francesca had attended, said the teenager had achieved 15 GCSEs at grade A or A* and had been studying for her A-levels at a different Sheffield school. | Sue Simmons, head teacher at Westfield Sports College where Francesca had attended, said the teenager had achieved 15 GCSEs at grade A or A* and had been studying for her A-levels at a different Sheffield school. |
We looked on and just hoped that they were going to get up but no one did Jules McKay, eyewitness | We looked on and just hoped that they were going to get up but no one did Jules McKay, eyewitness |
Mrs Simmons said: "We are deeply upset by Francesca's death." | Mrs Simmons said: "We are deeply upset by Francesca's death." |
"Francesca was a gifted and talented student who was an absolute joy to teach. | "Francesca was a gifted and talented student who was an absolute joy to teach. |
"What has happened is absolutely heartbreaking." | "What has happened is absolutely heartbreaking." |
She said the college had postponed its GCSE presentation evening, due to be held next week, as a mark of respect for all the girls involved in the crash. | She said the college had postponed its GCSE presentation evening, due to be held next week, as a mark of respect for all the girls involved in the crash. |
The girls had been using an improvised metal sledge, believed to have been made from an upturned Land Rover roof, which is understood to have gone through a barbed wire fence. | The girls had been using an improvised metal sledge, believed to have been made from an upturned Land Rover roof, which is understood to have gone through a barbed wire fence. |
It then struck a separate section of fence in a field being used for cattle grazing. | It then struck a separate section of fence in a field being used for cattle grazing. |
Danger warning | Danger warning |
Jules McKay, who saw the accident, said: "There were a lot of people on the slope. Everyone was sledging as normal and having a good time. | Jules McKay, who saw the accident, said: "There were a lot of people on the slope. Everyone was sledging as normal and having a good time. |
"There was a wire fence stretched across it - it had barbed wire and a mesh underneath. | "There was a wire fence stretched across it - it had barbed wire and a mesh underneath. |
"All of a sudden, at a tremendous speed, came this roof with the girls on it. It was so fast they couldn't jump from it. | "All of a sudden, at a tremendous speed, came this roof with the girls on it. It was so fast they couldn't jump from it. |
Police are liaising with park rangers and the Health and Safety Executive in their investigation into the accident. | Police are liaising with park rangers and the Health and Safety Executive in their investigation into the accident. |
The South Yorkshire force issued a warning about the dangers of playing on snow and ice. | The South Yorkshire force issued a warning about the dangers of playing on snow and ice. |
A spokesman said: "Police would like to highlight the importance of personal safety during this period of adverse weather and advise everyone to take extra care when playing out in the snow and ice." | A spokesman said: "Police would like to highlight the importance of personal safety during this period of adverse weather and advise everyone to take extra care when playing out in the snow and ice." |
Rotherham Council said it had taken steps to prevent people sledging on that particular slope. | Rotherham Council said it had taken steps to prevent people sledging on that particular slope. |