Essex Police Leonna had “a heart full of love and a mind full of endless ideas”, her family said
The family of a seven-year-old girl who died after a tree collapsed on her in a park has described her as “a light in our lives”.
Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham in east London, was visiting Southend-on-Sea with family.
Emergency services were called to Chalkwell Park shortly before 15:00 BST on Saturday, but Leonna died in hospital.
A six-year-old girl, who was also under the tree and is Leonna\’s cousin, remains critically ill in hospital. Three other children had minor injuries.
In a statement Leonna\’s family said: “It is with broken hearts and unimaginable pain that we share the devastating loss of our beloved daughter Leonna – our beautiful, bright, and loving little girl, taken from us far too soon.
“Leonna was more than just a child – she was a light in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the joy of meeting her.
“She was funny, kind, and full of life – a shining star who brought happiness wherever she went and to whoever she met.
“From the moment she walked into a room, she would light it up.
“She was the kind of girl who gave love without asking for anything in return.
“She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair.”
Stuart Woodward/BBC A witness said up to 50 people tried to lift the tree off the children after its partial collapse
Up to 50 people tried to lift the tree when it trapped five children underneath it, witnesses told the BBC, including some from nearby Westcliff Cricket Club.
They were swiftly joined by first responders from all emergency services.
The family also paid tribute to those who had reached out to them.
“We would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has supported us – our family, our friends, our community, and all those who stood with us in Southend and beyond,” said the family statement, issued via Essex Police.
“Your kindness, your prayers, and your presence have meant more than we could ever express. In our deepest sorrow, you reminded us that we are not alone.
“We are incredibly grateful for every candle lit, every flower placed, every tear shared in her memory.
“The outpouring of love for our daughter has brought us comfort in ways we never imagined possible.”
Essex Police The county\’s fire service said colleagues involved in moving the large branch that had fallen were deeply affected by the incident
On Monday, police, fire and ambulance service and Southend-on-Sea City Council representatives laid flowers and paid their respects at the park.
Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris said: “To lose a child in any circumstance is unthinkable, to lose a child in this terrible way defies all belief.
“Everyone – from my officers and staff, to ambulance, fire and council colleagues, to the public of Southend and across the country – is struggling to come to terms with what happened.
“We are all hoping for a positive outcome in relation to the little girl who remains in hospital.”
A full and independent police investigation was under way, she added.
Essex Police A number of tributes including flowers and soft toys have been left by people paying their respects to Leonna and the other injured children
The park, west of the city centre, is managed by the council.
It believed the tree was about 350 years old and inspections of it had taken place on Monday.
The statement from Leonna\’s family ended: “This is a time of deep mourning and reflection for our family.
“We need space to grieve, to remember our precious Leonna, and to begin the slow and painful process of healing.
“Leonna will live forever in our hearts – in every laugh, every sunbeam, every act of kindness we see in the world.
“We were so lucky to have had her, even if only for a short time.
“Thank you for holding her in your hearts.”
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Terribl3 event just happened a whole family died… see more
Justin Drew Bieber born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. He is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and global influence in modern-day popular music. Bieber was discovered by American record executive Scooter Braun and signed with RBMG Records in 2008, gaining recognition with the release of his debut seven-track EP My World (2009) and soon establishing himself as a teen idol.
which became one of the best selling singles of all time in the US. His second studio album, Under the Mistletoe (2011), became the first Christmas album by a male artist to debut at number one in the US.
Bieber experimented with dance-pop in his third studio album, Believe (2012), and went on to become the first artist in history with five US number-one albums by the age of 18. From 2013–14, Bieber was involved in multiple controversies and legal issues, which had a drastic impact on his public image.In 2015, Bieber explored EDM with Jack Ü as a lead vocalist on “Where Are Ü Now”, which won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. The song’s musical direction played an instrumental role in his fourth studio album, Purpose, which produced three US number-one singles: “Love Yourself”, “Sorry”, and “What Do You Mean?”
He became the first artist in history to occupy the entire top three of the UK Singles Chart. Bieber diversified on numerous collaborations between 2016 and 2017, including “I’m the One” and his remix to “Despacito”—both reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 a week apart, making him the first artist in history to chart new number-one songs in consecutive weeks.
“Despacito” was named the greatest Latin song of all time by Billboard and earned Bieber his career-first Latin Grammy Award. In 2019, he released a country collaboration with Dan + Shay, “10,000 Hours”, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.