Penge crash: Child actor Makayah McDermott dies in London after car chased by police hits family

Despite frantic efforts by passersby and paramedics Makaya McDermott and his aunt Rosie Cooper died at the scene

A child actor and his aunt have died after they were mowed down by a suspected stolen car being chased by police in a crash, leaving three girls in hospital.

The vehicle ploughed into the family as they walked along Lennard Road in Penge, south-east London on Wednesday.

Despite frantic efforts by passersby and paramedics, 10-year-old actor Makaya McDermott and his aunt, Rozanne Cooper, 34, died at the scene while the three other children, two aged 13 and one aged eight, were airlifted to hospital.

One distraught woman described how she tried to resuscitate the woman, named in reports as Rosie Cooper and thought to be in her late 30s, while Makayah was initially conscious before passing out.

Two of the girls, twins named as Niyah and Yahla, Makayah's older sisters, were trapped underneath and managed to crawl out after bystanders lifted it off them.

But witnesses said another girl, aged around 11 and reportedly Ms Cooper's daughter, screamed “I can't feel my legs” before being taken away in an ambulance.

Venissa Vassell, 18, who ran from a nearby railway station to help, said: “I did CPR on this lady. I blew in her mouth.”

Speaking on the doorstep of the family home the following day, his father Omar McDermott, 37, said: “It's not the right time, I'm sorry it's just not the right time.”

Flowers and candles have been left close to where a car fleeing police smashed into the family as they walked to their local park. Mourners and well-wishers left bouquets and a teddy bear, and flowers continued to to arrive.

A note pinned to the tree said: “Taken so sadly, may the angels look after you. ”God bless, Dean and Kerry."

One mourner, who paid her respects said: “I didn't know the family, I'm on my way to work and I live around the corner. It's so tragic. Very sad.”

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and theft of a motor vehicle - he remains in custody at a south London police station.

At this stage of the investigation it is believed he was the sole occupant of the vehicle.