A seven-year-old girl crushed to death by a falling tree has been named as Leonna Ruka.
Leonna, from Dagenham, was enjoying the warm weather in Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea on Sunday when a tree collapsed.
Several children were pinned beneath it, including Leonna, as park-goers and family members rushed to raise the broken branches just after 3pm.
Leonna was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, where she died.
A six-year-old girl remains in hospital in a critical condition, and three other children suffered minor injuries.
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The youngster’s family said in a statement today: ‘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 an intelligent and curious soul, full of energy and creativity.’
Her family added that Leonna always left those she met with a ‘warm feeling in their heart’, known for her curiosity and inquisitive nature.
‘She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair,’ the statement said.
‘Leonna had so many dreams – dreams that now remain unfinished.’
The 200-year-old cedar tree had been propped up for decades, most recently by a metal pole, photographs before the incident showed.

Bani, her cousin, previously told Metro that some 50 people raced to help the children after the tree snapped.
‘She was an honest girl who was always good in school. She had so much wisdom for someone so young. Now she is gone,’ he said.
Local cricket teams were among those trying to rip the heavy branch off Leonna, Westcliff-on-Sea Cricket Club member Tom Clark told Metro.
He said: ‘It was a harrowing experience for all involved, with not only the sight of the children but the cries from the parents as well.

‘Everyone reacted without hesitation and did all they could to help the children, including performing CPR and assisting the emergency services who were on the scene quickly and took control of the rescue effort.’
A police investigation is underway.
Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris cautioned people against speculating over the little girl’s death.
She added: ‘There will be a time and a place for the facts around what led to this incident to be explored in a public forum.’