Girl aged six dies after Kidderminster canal fall

A six year-old girl has died after falling into a canal with two other children, police have said.

The three children fell into the water near Springfield Park in Kidderminster shortly before 6.20pm yesterday.

West Mercia Police said they understand two of the children managed to get themselves out of the canal but the third child was in the water for some time before being rescued.

A spokesman for the force said: "The three children were all rushed to hospital but sadly the six-year-old girl was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The two other children are expected to make a full recovery."

Superintendent Kevin Purcell, of West Mercia Police, said: "The family of the six-year-old are absolutely devastated by their loss and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time."

The scene at the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, near Wolverley Court Lock, remains taped off today.

PA