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Girl, five, dies in gate tragedy Girl, five, dies in gate tragedy
(about 1 hour later)
The gate at Brook Court has been de-activatedThe gate at Brook Court has been de-activated
Police are investigating the death of a five-year-old girl who was trapped by an automatic sliding gate.Police are investigating the death of a five-year-old girl who was trapped by an automatic sliding gate.
South Wales Police said emergency services attended the scene at an apartment block in Bridgend, on Saturday afternoon. South Wales Police said emergency services attended the scene at a block of flats in Bridgend, on Saturday afternoon.
The girl, who has not been named, was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital, where she later died. The girl, named by her school as Karolina, was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital, where she later died.
Floral tributes, teddies and cards have been left on the railings outside Brook Court.Floral tributes, teddies and cards have been left on the railings outside Brook Court.
Local councillor Peter Foley said: "It's a great tragedy. I don't blame the kids for playing here. They should be safe here." She was a pupil at Penybont Primary School.
Police say a full investigation is being carried out, next of kin are being informed and a file is being prepared for the coroner.Police say a full investigation is being carried out, next of kin are being informed and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
The waist-high black metal gate is at the entrance to a small car park at a three-storey apartment building about five minutes walk from the town centre. The waist-high black metal gate is at the entrance to a small car park at a three-storey building about five minutes walk from the town centre.
Residents at the modern block of privately-owned flats, which is surrounded by streets of terraced houses, said the accident happened about 1700 BST on Saturday.Residents at the modern block of privately-owned flats, which is surrounded by streets of terraced houses, said the accident happened about 1700 BST on Saturday.
Eleanor Jones, who lives opposite the scene, said a large number of police officers were in the street when she returned home about 1830 BST.Eleanor Jones, who lives opposite the scene, said a large number of police officers were in the street when she returned home about 1830 BST.
She said: "I can't believe it because the little girl was there when I went out.She said: "I can't believe it because the little girl was there when I went out.
"By the time I came home it was just police in the street. I had seen her but I didn't know her.""By the time I came home it was just police in the street. I had seen her but I didn't know her."
She added: "It's devastating. You can't believe that a gate would do that."She added: "It's devastating. You can't believe that a gate would do that."
Floral tributes have been left at the sceneFloral tributes have been left at the scene
The gate was open and de-activated following the incident.The gate was open and de-activated following the incident.
Deborah Rees, editor of Bridgend's newspaper The Glamorgan Gazette, drove past the girl playing an hour before the tragedy.Deborah Rees, editor of Bridgend's newspaper The Glamorgan Gazette, drove past the girl playing an hour before the tragedy.
She said: "She was sitting in the garden opposite the car park, playing quite happily with a couple of cats.She said: "She was sitting in the garden opposite the car park, playing quite happily with a couple of cats.
"I had seen her before. She was a happy little thing, always smiling.""I had seen her before. She was a happy little thing, always smiling."
Miss Rees added that people in Bridgend could not comprehend how the accident had happened. The Health and Safety Executive say it is conducting a joint investigation with South Wales Police into the death. One of their inspectors has already been to the scene to investigate.
She added: "That gate is just so slow when it opens and closes. It gives you plenty of time to get out of the way. It's about 30 seconds until it's fully open." Developers Leadbitter Homes, who built Brook Court in 2006, said they would provide assistance to support the investigation.
Among tributes left at the scene, one read: "Tears are in my eyes when I think about a beautiful little girl lost." Bob Rendell, group chief executive, said: "The Leadbitter Group is shocked and saddened by the sudden death of this young girl in Bridgend - and we offer our deepest sympathies to her parents, family and friends."
Another said: "Pedal your little bike as fast as you can to heaven. Sleep tight little angel." Although the flats within Brook Court are owner occupied, Hafod Housing Association has had responsibility for its communal areas, including the gates and car park, since August 2009.
The Health and Safety Executive say they are conducting a joint investigation with South Wales Police into the death. One of their inspectors has already been to the scene to investigate. In a statement managing director Alan Morgan said: "We were extremely saddened to learn about the tragic incident that happened at Brook Court on Saturday afternoon.
The incident follows href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/10457704.stm">death in Manchester last Monday of a six-year-old crushed by an electronic gate. "We are not aware of any problems with the gates. They are serviced regularly and at our last residents' meeting in April, no concerns were raised about their safety.
"We are obviously keen to establish how this incident could have happened so that we can take the necessary steps to ensure nothing like this can happen again. Our thoughts are with the girl's family and friends at this devastating time."
The incident follows a death in Manchester last Monday of a six-year-old crushed by an electronic gate.
Semelia Campbell was playing with a friend near her home in Moss Side when the motorised gate closed on her.Semelia Campbell was playing with a friend near her home in Moss Side when the motorised gate closed on her.
The schoolgirl was eventually freed when police broke off an electronic box.The schoolgirl was eventually freed when police broke off an electronic box.
She was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary but died from her injuries a short time later.She was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary but died from her injuries a short time later.