‘She was left to drown’: Grieving father of girl, 11, who died during birthday party at water park says she ‘could have been saved’ if staff had ‘acted sooner’ – as he pays tribute to his daughter and their ‘unbreakable bond’

• Kyra Hill died during birthday party at Liquid Leisure, near Windsor, Berkshire
• Her father Leonard Hill today said the family been ‘ripped to pieces’ by her death
• He also maintained that he is ‘100 per cent sure Kyra could have been saved’

The grieving father of an 11-year-old girl who drowned during a birthday party at a water park has said she ‘could have been saved’ if staff had ‘acted sooner’.

Kyra Hill died after attending a party at the Liquid Leisure water park near Windsor, Berkshire, on August 6. 

Emergency services were called to the park after Kyra went missing at around 3.55pm, before she was found shortly after 5.10pm and rushed to Wexham Park Hospital, where she died. 

Her father Leonard Hill today said the family has been ‘ripped to pieces’ by her death, adding that he is ‘100 per cent sure Kyra could have been saved’ if staff had ‘acted sooner and more urgently’.

He told Sky News: ‘I feel really, really let down. I’m so sad that she’s gone, because me and her have an unbreakable bond, we’re that tight.

‘They’ve ripped one of my closest people to me in life away from me because they haven’t acted in urgency.’

Leonard Hill (pictured) today said his family has been ‘ripped to pieces’ by the death of his 11-year-old daughter Kyra Hill

Kyra Hill died after attending a party at the Liquid Leisure water park near Windsor, Berkshire, on August 6.

Lifeguards were reportedly running all over the obstacles and looking under them. Pictured: Library image

The tragic incident took place at the lake by Liquid Leisure near Datchet in Windsor on August 6

Mr Hill previously said Kyra had not been playing on inflatables and instead was in an area designated for swimming.

He said it was in a nine-by-12 metre pool that she was found.

The father continued: ‘I would say she was left to drown, because there’s no way she could have gone down in that same body of water and it’s taken you over 30 minutes to contact the emergency services.’

‘She had a chance, but lack of urgency, lack of interest, lack of action is the reason why my daughter is no longer here today.’

Mr Hill revealed that Kyra’s younger brother ‘asks about his sister every day’, while her sister feels ‘cut up’ to have lost ‘her best friend’.

He also said Liquid Leisure has not reached out to his family following the incident, despite repeated attempts by himself and Kyra’s mother to contact them.

The water park has been contacted for comment. A previous statement said: ‘We are all devastated by the tragic incident which took place in the designated swimming area of our lake and our thoughts are with the family and all those affected.

‘We are fully co-operating with the authorities and the ongoing investigation, and we will provide further updates when we can.’

Kyra Hill had dreams of playing football for Manchester United women’s team before the tragedy at Liquid Leisure.

More than 20 floral tributes with cards that read ‘To a beautiful little girl’ and ‘RIP Little Angel’ were laid at the entrance to the park after news of Kyra’s death

Liquid Leisure water park will not be allowed to reopen until it has proven the risk of drowning has been reduced, the local council said last week. Pictured: Closed signs on the gates of the water park in Windsor 

Serious injury lawyers Jill Greenfield and Harvinder Kaur, of Fieldfisher, are representing the family.

Ms Kaur confirmed the local authority is investigating what happened and an inquest will open at Reading Coroner’s Court.

Ms Greenfield said: ‘Our focus is to support the family to navigate the legal process and find out how this could ever have happened to a young girl who was simply celebrating her friend’s birthday.’

Previously, Thames Valley Police said Kyra’s death was not being treated as suspicious and a file was being prepared for the coroner. 

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