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Five-year-old girl killed in playground by falling tree 'begged her mother for one last ride' Alexia Walenkaki death: Five-year-old girl killed when tree trunk fell on top her had 'begged her mother for one last ride'
(about 2 hours later)
A five-year-old girl who was killed by a falling log in an east London play park was celebrating her sixth birthday and asked her mother for one more go on her favourite ride. A five-year-old girl who was killed when a tree trunk being used as a rope swing fell on top of her had begged her mother for one last go on her favourite ride.
Alexia Walenkaki, who would have been six on Saturday, was crushed when one of the logs supporting a swing set in a council run playground in Mile End snapped and fell on top of her. Alexia Walenkaki, who would have been six on Saturday, was crushed when the play equipment in a council-run playground in Mile End snapped and fell.
Police say Alexa went into cardiac arrest after the tree fell at around 5:30pm on Friday and died around an hour later.Police say Alexa went into cardiac arrest after the tree fell at around 5:30pm on Friday and died around an hour later.
Her mother, Vida Kwotuah from Poplar, said she believed Alexia would still be alive if the playground equipment had been checked properly.Her mother, Vida Kwotuah from Poplar, said she believed Alexia would still be alive if the playground equipment had been checked properly.
She told BBC London News: “Looking at the log itself it is very rotten. Surely if the play equipment had been checked then that log would not have been there. And if it was there it would have been a much stronger one.”She told BBC London News: “Looking at the log itself it is very rotten. Surely if the play equipment had been checked then that log would not have been there. And if it was there it would have been a much stronger one.”
She described the moment it happened: “She was so happy, playing and I was sitting there watching her the whole time.She described the moment it happened: “She was so happy, playing and I was sitting there watching her the whole time.
“I saw the log falling so I ran over there but when I got there she was already on the floor.”“I saw the log falling so I ran over there but when I got there she was already on the floor.”
Ms Kwotuah said it has been “tough” without Alexia and she misses her:  “Its been tough. You go into the bathroom, you see her toothbrush, her toothpaste, its hard. Its 3 o’clock, I would be picking up from school.Ms Kwotuah said it has been “tough” without Alexia and she misses her:  “Its been tough. You go into the bathroom, you see her toothbrush, her toothpaste, its hard. Its 3 o’clock, I would be picking up from school.
“Alexia was a little strong girl, she was likeable, everyone who met her fell in love with her. I want people to remember her for that.”“Alexia was a little strong girl, she was likeable, everyone who met her fell in love with her. I want people to remember her for that.”
An investigation has been launched into the accident by London police and the Health and Safety Executive.An investigation has been launched into the accident by London police and the Health and Safety Executive.
In a statement, Tower Hamlets Council said: "A joint investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of the incident by the police and the Health and Safety Executive and at this stage we cannot make any further comment.”In a statement, Tower Hamlets Council said: "A joint investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of the incident by the police and the Health and Safety Executive and at this stage we cannot make any further comment.”