Kent Girl in Theme Park Fall

A health and safety inspector is at a theme park today where a four-year-old girl from Kent was critically injured following a fall from a bridge last week.

Jessica Blake, from Sheerness, suffered a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain and broken ribs when she fell around 14ft from the queue for a ride at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey on Thursday afternoon. She was treated by fully trained medical staff at the scene until paramedics arrived and she was then taken to hospital in a conscious state.

She is now being treated at St George's Hospital, south London, and her family are at her side. She remains in a critical condition.

The Health and Safety Executive said that the inspector will be on site this morning and is "making initial inquiries'' into the incident.

A spokeswoman for Chessington said its own internal investigation was also taking place and the ride remains closed today, although the park is open. Initial inspections are focused on a fence panel which lines the ride's queue.

She said: "Until all investigations have concluded we are also not in a position to comment further. We are in touch with the family, and in line with their wishes will now await further news.

"Our thoughts and best wishes are with them at this difficult time.''