The family of a 10-year-old girl killed in a mudslide in North Yorkshire on Wednesday has been remembered by her family as a “happy, bubbly, go-lucky little girl”.
Leah Harrison, a Year 6 pupil from Darlington, was reportedly on a school trip near the village of Carlton-in-Cleveland on the edge of the North York Moors, when the tragedy happened.
Her family said in a statement on Thursday: "Leah Harrison, the happy, bubbly, go-lucky little girl. The beautiful smile, the giddy laugh, the silly jokes.
“You will never ever be forgotten baby girl. You will achieve you dream and become a player for the Lionesses.
“Spread those wings. May you rest in paradise."
North Yorkshire Police confirmed Leah was killed in a mudslide that happened around 1.15pm on Wednesday, as heavy rain battered the rural area.
Chief Executive of the Lingfield Education Trust Nick Blackburn said in a statement to the Northern Echo: "The full details are still emerging but this is clearly a heartbreaking tragedy.
“Leah was a much-loved part of our school and our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the school staff.
"Counselling is being arranged within the school for pupils and staff. We are all in a state of shock and we would ask that the privacy of the family and the school community is respected while we try to come to terms with what has happened."
The Northern Echo reports the mudslide happened at Carlton Bank - a hill popular with walkers, which offers views across North York Moors National Park.
There were no other injuries in the mudslide, North Yorkshire Police said, as it urged the public urged to avoid the area.
A spokesperson said on Wednesday: “We are currently responding to a mudslide at Carlton-in-Cleveland.
“We can confirm that one person has sadly died as a result of the incident.
“Our thoughts are with their family and friends during this difficult time.”
