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Leah Harrison inquest told mudslide death was unavoidable Leah Harrison school trip mudslide death ruled an accident
(about 4 hours later)
Leah Harrison's mum described her as a "happy go lucky person with a gorgeous, infectious smile". Leah Harrison's mum described her as a "happy go lucky person with a gorgeous, infectious smile"
An activities co-ordinator has told an inquest into the death of a 10-year-old girl killed in a mudslide that the incident "could not have been predicted and could not have been avoided". The death of a 10-year-old girl caught in a mudslide while on a school trip has been ruled an accident by an inquest jury.
Leah Harrison, a Year 6 pupil at Mount Pleasant Primary School in Darlington, died in May last year during a residential trip to Carlton Adventure in Carlton-in-Cleveland, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.Leah Harrison, a Year 6 pupil at Mount Pleasant Primary School in Darlington, died in May last year during a residential trip to Carlton Adventure in Carlton-in-Cleveland, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.
At the start of the inquest at Teesside Magistrates' Court, senior activities co-ordinator Paul Godwin said Leah was with a group of children taking part in a forest walk. In a written statement, Leah's mother Michelle Harrison said her daughter was a "happy-go-lucky person with a gorgeous, infectious smile".
He said the weather "did not cause me any concern for Leah's group", although conditions were misty. The jury at Teesside Coroners Court concluded Leah's death was accidental and she was "swept off her feet" by the mudslide which left her unable to breathe.
Mr Godwin said the risk of a mudslide was "totally unforeseen" and would not have been included in a risk assessment because there was "no prior indication" of such an event.
He said he was supervising another activity at the centre when he was informed of what had happened.
A yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place for Carlton-in-Cleveland at the time of Leah's death
The inquest jury also heard a written statement from Leah's mother, Michelle Harrison.
She said Leah was a "happy-go-lucky person with a gorgeous, infectious smile".
Ms Harrison said although Leah had recently been poorly with tonsillitis she was looking forward to the trip to the adventure centre.Ms Harrison said although Leah had recently been poorly with tonsillitis she was looking forward to the trip to the adventure centre.
She said she was "proud as punch" to be on the trip.She said she was "proud as punch" to be on the trip.
A yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place for Carlton-in-Cleveland at the time of Leah's death
Activities co-ordinator Paul Godwin told the inquest the mudslide which killed Leah "could not have been predicted and could not have been avoided".
He said the risk was "totally unforeseen" and would not have been included in a risk assessment because there was "no prior indication" of such an event.
Mr Godwin had been supervising another activity at the centre when he was informed of what had happened.
In a statement read to the inquest jury, Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton said Leah died from "traumatic asphyxia", but had "no natural disease".In a statement read to the inquest jury, Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton said Leah died from "traumatic asphyxia", but had "no natural disease".
A two month investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded last December that no one was at fault. A two-month investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded last December that no-one was at fault.
The mudslide, at the Hartlepool Borough Council-owned site, happened while a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place. Leah's head teacher had been impressed with how she took to the activities on the trip
'Lava flow'
Headteacher Joanne Blackham, who was on the activity trip, said Leah had "really impressed her in the activities" and "pushed herself out of her comfort zone".Headteacher Joanne Blackham, who was on the activity trip, said Leah had "really impressed her in the activities" and "pushed herself out of her comfort zone".
When reading a statement she had previously made to the police, she became emotional as she described the mud slide being like a "lava flow".When reading a statement she had previously made to the police, she became emotional as she described the mud slide being like a "lava flow".
With mud up to her chest, Ms Blackburn tried to pull Leah out by her legs but "there was no movement".With mud up to her chest, Ms Blackburn tried to pull Leah out by her legs but "there was no movement".
She said she had had no concerns previously about the weather conditions, describing it as "just a rainy day". The mudslide at the Hartlepool Borough Council-owned site happened while a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place.
Ms Blackburn said she had had no concerns previously about the weather conditions, describing it as "just a rainy day".
"It literally just came out of nowhere, you could hear the roaring and rushing of water and muck."It literally just came out of nowhere, you could hear the roaring and rushing of water and muck.
"It just swept her away - it just took her." "It just swept her away, it just took her."
The inquest, which is expected to last up to two days, continues.
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