Zip wire accident girl named

A five-year-old girl who died in a zip wire accident has been named as Alexia Walenkaki.

Police believe she suffered severe injuries when a tree the wire was attached to collapsed in Mile End Park, east London.

Police were called just after 5.30pm on Friday and attended the scene with London Ambulance Service, who found her in cardiac arrest.

Alexia was taken to an east London hospital where she died at 6.43pm. A post-mortem examination will take place on Wednesday.

Mile End neighbourhood policing team earlier confirmed the identity of the young victim and dismissed rumours of a violent attack on Twitter.

The tweet published on their account, @MPSMileEnd, reads: "We would like to express our sincerest condolences to the family of Alexia Walenkaki, who tragically died in Mile End Park on Friday."

It added: "We are aware of rumours/speculation that this was from a violent assault. This is not true & would ask, out of respect, that rumours stop."

Scotland Yard said a joint investigation had been launched by the Metropolitan Police and the Health and Safety Executive, led by detectives from the homicide and major crime command, due to the complex circumstances surrounding the incident.

A spokesman for 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.

"The council would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the family involved."

Anyone who witnessed the accident should call police on 020 8345 3715.