12-year-old Hull girl dies swimming on school trip to south of France

Jessica Lawson was a pupil at Wolfreton School in East Yorkshire

Wolfreton School in East Yorkshire where the girl was a pupil (Google Maps)

A 12-year-old girl from Hull has died while on a swimming trip to the south of France, organisers say.

Jessica Lawson was a pupil of Wolfreton School in East Yorkshire.

Ms Lawson is believed to have been on a visit to an adventure centre in Massif Central region, where the "swimming incident" occured. Although she was airlifted to hospital in Limoges on Tuesday afternoon, she later died. Twenty-four pupils and three members of staff were also on the trip organised by Activ4.

The company, a "specialist school trips operator" known to organise tailor-made sports trips, released a statement confirming that the pupil had been on one of their tours at the time of the incident.

"At this stage the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear," a spokesperson for the company said. They added that local French authorities and the school were investigating, alongside senior management from the company.

It is believed that Ms Lawson was among a group playing on a lake and jumping from a pontoon, when the jetty overturned and trapped some children underneath it.

East Riding Council has also confirmed that they will conduct an investigation into the events surrounding Ms Lawson's death. Mike Furbank, the council's head of children and young people, education and schools, told ITV that the council was providing "close support" to the student's family and school.

Mr Furbank added that arrangements were being made to return the pupils home as soon as possible.

Wolfreton School headteacher Dave McCready told the BBC: "We are all deeply saddened by this tragic event."

A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed the death to The Independent and said: "We have been in contact with the family to offer our support and assistance at this difficult time.”