Girl (6) dies after Derry tree fall

A six-year-old girl died after falling from a tree in Derry last night.

A six-year-old girl died after falling from a tree in Derry last night.

The girl was taken to hospital in a critical condition following the incident in a residential area of Ballymagroarty at 6.30pm yesterday, but died a short time later.

It is believed she was climbing a tree when she fell.

A PSNI spokeswoman said police are investigating the possibility that the child was electrocuted by overhead power cables.

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Northern Ireland Electricity said it was co-operating fully with the Health and Safety Executive  and police.

Sinn Féin councillor Billy Page said electricity cables were entwined in the tree the girl was playing on. "The trees are on a high banking, so when the child is on the banking she is up a number of feet. She hadn't to go very far up into the tree."

SDLP councillor Mark Durkan said: "This is a real tragedy. Friends, neighbours and the wider community are struggling to believe that this has happened."