7 hours ago
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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.
Stuart Woodward/BBC
A witness said up to 50 people tried to lift the tree off the children after its partial collapse
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.
"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."
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.
