Leah Harrison, a year six pupil at Mount Pleasant Primary School, was on a trip at Carlton Adventure Centre in Carlton-In-Cleveland using a “popular” walking route on a forest adventure activity when disaster struck on May 22, 2024.
The group, who had recently finished their SATS exams, were on an instructor-led walk when the mudslide that “came out of nowhere” swept Leah, 10, off her feet whilst she was crossing a small brook.
Foggy and misty conditions amidst a yellow weather warning made Leah’s rescue difficult as a teacher and instructor “went into survival mode”, desperately trying to dig her out by her legs – as a post mortem exam carried out by Dr Jennifer Bolton concluded she died of asphyxiation (suffocation).
An inquest into her death at Teesside Coroners’ Court also heard how Leah, described by those who knew her as a “bubbly” budding Lioness, was “proud as punch” to be going on the trip despite being poorly with tonsilitis in the days prior.
Leah’s mum Michelle, described the “worst day of her life” after the moment police knocked on her door to tell her what had happened.
Mum Michelle told the court how she walked with Leah to the school with her suitcase, gave her a “big kiss and cuddle and told her to have the best time” – but that was the last time she saw her daughter alive.
“I will never forget that moment for as long as I live”, she added.
The school’s headteacher, Joanne Blackham, told the inquest the mudslide “came out of nowhere” and “just took (Leah) away,” saying: “We didn’t hear it, we couldn’t see it.”
Ms Blackham said there had “not been so much as a broken toe” on previous, regular trips to the centre.
She said she had got to know Leah well on the first day of the trip and was “really impressed with her resilience and her character”.
Ms Blackham said: “She was absolutely loving the time at Carlton, she really pushed herself out of her comfort zone.”
She told the inquest she had no concerns about the weather that morning, saying: “It was just a rainy day.”
She added the path they were on was “one we used all the time” and there were no issues crossing the stream before.
Senior Activities Officer Paul Godwin from Carlton Adventure Centre, told the inquest about the day of Leah’s death – and by the time he had arrived at the scene, all that could be seen of Leah was her feet.
“I would describe the conditions to be eerie and misty but I have seen these conditions before. The other children were being kept out of the way – I didn’t see Leah.
“I know that it would have been really hard to help Leah. It is my opinion that on that particular day, doing that particular activity, the mudslide could not have been predicted or avoided.”
The inquest continues.
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