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| Girl killed by car on Kendal pitch was 'force of nature' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Poppy Atkinson was determined to be a professional footballer, her family said | Poppy Atkinson was determined to be a professional footballer, her family said |
| A girl who was killed when a car crashed on to a pitch where she was playing football was a "force of nature", her family has said. | |
| Poppy Atkinson, 10, was fatally struck by the vehicle while attending a training session at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on Wednesday evening. | Poppy Atkinson, 10, was fatally struck by the vehicle while attending a training session at Kendal Rugby Club in Cumbria on Wednesday evening. |
| Her family described her as the "focal point of their lives". | Her family described her as the "focal point of their lives". |
| She was determined to be a professional footballer and play for Manchester United, they said. | She was determined to be a professional footballer and play for Manchester United, they said. |
| An eight-year-old girl, also from Kendal, was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. | An eight-year-old girl, also from Kendal, was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. |
| Cumbria Police arrested a 40-year-old man from Lancaster on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but said there was "no indication to suggest that this incident was a deliberate act". | Cumbria Police arrested a 40-year-old man from Lancaster on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but said there was "no indication to suggest that this incident was a deliberate act". |
| Poppy Atkinson (pictured with her brother Edward) touched so many lives, her family said | |
| Poppy's family said their lives revolved around the "small, petite and beautiful" girl's love for football, adding: "Many who know her, and who know her determination to improve and win, had no doubt she would achieve her goal to one day to play for Manchester United." | |
| "She was a force of nature. She was so special, she was too good for this world. | |
| "Poppy touched so many lives, it was easy to see why, her energy, character, spirit and passion for football was infectious and touched huge numbers of people. | |
| "The hole in our lives and so many around us that Poppy leaves is enormous, we will never be whole again." | |
| 'Prayers remain with family' | |
| Nick Turley, the headteacher of Old Hutton CE Primary School, where Poppy was a pupil, said the community was devastated. | |
| "Poppy was someone who brought joy, light and happiness to all she did," he said, adding: "She had a wonderful sense of humour and a deep love of life. | |
| "Our prayers will remain with Poppy's family and as a school community we will do all we can to support them." | |
| Eyewitnesses at the scene on Wednesday described "sheer panic", but staff acted very quickly to get children off the field and away from the view of the crash scene. | |
| People have laid floral tributes and Kendal Rugby Club has cancelled its fixtures this weekend. | |
| Club Director Reg Burrow said staff were "shell-shocked". | |
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