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| Leah Harrison school trip mudslide death ruled an accident | Leah Harrison school trip mudslide death ruled an accident |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Leah's head teacher had been impressed with how she took to the activities on the trip | Leah's head teacher had been impressed with how she took to the activities on the trip |
| 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. | 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. |
| In a written statement, Leah's mother Michelle Harrison said her daughter was a "happy-go-lucky person with a gorgeous, infectious smile". | In a written statement, Leah's mother Michelle Harrison said her daughter was a "happy-go-lucky person with a gorgeous, infectious smile". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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" |
| 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 Blackham tried to pull Leah out by her legs but "there was no movement". | |
| The mudslide at the Hartlepool Borough Council-owned site happened while a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place. | The mudslide at the Hartlepool Borough Council-owned site happened while a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain was in place. |
| Ms Blackham 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." |
| After the inquest, Nick Blackburn, chief executive of Lingfield Education Trust, which runs the school, said: "Almost a year has passed since this heartbreaking tragedy, and our primary thoughts today remain with the family and loved ones of Leah, who are having to cope with an unimaginable loss. | After the inquest, Nick Blackburn, chief executive of Lingfield Education Trust, which runs the school, said: "Almost a year has passed since this heartbreaking tragedy, and our primary thoughts today remain with the family and loved ones of Leah, who are having to cope with an unimaginable loss. |
| "We continue to be there for them and to remember Leah as a special part of our school community." | "We continue to be there for them and to remember Leah as a special part of our school community." |
| Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. | Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. |