Latest news with #SueFerris
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Daily Record
Major search for girl who fell into reservoir while 'taking photos with dad'
A 13-year-old girl is feared dead after falling into a reservoir while out for a half-term walk with her dad. A desperate search is under way after a 13-year-old girl fell into a reservoir while taking pictures with her dad during a half-term walk. Emergency services were called to Baitings Dam near Ripponden, West Yorkshire , around 1.20pm on Wednesday after the girl fell over a parapet and into the deep water below. The teenager, who was described by devastated witnesses as having 'a really bright future,' was enjoying a scenic walk with her father when tragedy struck. She had recently secured a place at a grammar school and was out celebrating the achievement with her dad. Sue Ferris, 80 , whose home overlooks the bridge, witnessed the tragic incident and rushed to comfort the girl's distraught family, reports the Mirror. 'The little girl was posing for photographs before this happened. Her dad had been taking the photographs,' she said. 'It is disgraceful that there are no life buoy rings anywhere on the parapet.' Mrs Ferris added that the girl's father had been left inconsolable after watching his daughter fall, clutching his chest in distress before being taken away in an ambulance. 'Dad had been taking photographs, according to a witness, and he also heard dad screaming and shouting her name after she fell in – but he did not go into the water,' she said. 'He had some kind of heart problem and was clutching his chest soon afterwards and was taken away by ambulance.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The girl had been walking with just her dad when she fell, but other family members rushed to the scene after the tragic incident. 'She had just got into grammar school, they told me. They were very proud of her,' said Mrs Ferris. 'It was just dad and daughter at the reservoir when she fell in. The rest of the family came after the accident.' Police confirmed they are continuing to search the reservoir, with specialist marine and underwater teams scouring the area since Wednesday afternoon. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: 'Shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon, police were called to a report a girl had fallen into water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden. Emergency services are currently on the scene, with searches ongoing to locate the girl.' Anyone with information that may assist the ongoing investigation is urged to contact Calderdale District Police online or via 101, quoting log 797 of 28 May .
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Girl, 13, ‘posing for photos with her dad on half-term walk around reservoir' when she fell in water as search mounts
A SCHOOLGIRL who fell into the water at a reservoir was taking pictures with her dad while enjoying a half-term walk, according to witnesses. The 13-year-old vanished after falling into the water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon. 4 4 4 Cops and emergency crews have been desperately scouring the reservoir to try and find the missing teenager but have yet to discover any signs of her. Witnesses have described how the teenager had "a really bright future" and that she had been enjoying a half-term walk with her dad when tragedy struck. Sue Ferris, 80, who has lived in a house directly overlooking the parapet for 20 years, helped comfort the girl's family yesterday afternoon after witnessing her fall. Mrs Ferris said: "The little girl was posing for photographs before this happened. Her dad had been taking the photographs." After speaking to the girl's family, she said that they told her the teenager was 13 years old and from Halifax, around six miles north-east of the dam. Mrs Ferris explained: "She had decided that she wanted to walk round the reservoir with her dad because it was half term, but the rest of the family hadn't wanted to go. "She had just got into grammar school, they told me. They were very proud of her. She had a really bright future. "It was just dad and daughter at the reservoir when she fell in. The rest of the family came after the accident. "Dad had been taking photographs, according to a witness, and he also heard dad screaming and shouting her name after she fell in - but he did not go into the water. "He had some kind of heart problem and was clutching his chest soon afterwards and was taken away by ambulance." Mrs Ferris criticised the safety at the dam, saying changes had encouraged people to stand on the wall next to the water. She said: "It is disgraceful that there are no life buoy rings anywhere on the parapet. "Yorkshire Water added the white metal railings on top of the stone structure some years ago now. "But it only adds about half a foot to the barrier height and actually helps people to climb onto the wall. "It gives them something to grip on to. "All it is doing, is helping people to stand on the wall." Mrs Ferris explained that the reservoir is typically much deeper but that recent dry weather had revealed the beach - which is usually submerged. She said that a firefighter told her yesterday the depth of the water - where the teenager fell - was 140ft. Mrs Ferris added she comforted the girl's sister and mother, offering them tea and water as rescue divers trawled the waters. DESPERATE SEARCH CONTINUES TODAY Cops had first been called to the reservoir at around 1.20pm on Wednesday, with crews remaining throughout the afternoon and evening to try and find the missing girl. Police Regional Marine and Underwater Search teams then returned to the dam this morning to recommence the search for the teenager. Two RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) were seen at the site earlier today, following the teenager's estimated 30ft fall from the parapet of the dam into the reservoir. A police cordon is in place preventing the public from walking around Baitings Dam. There appears to be no way to climb out of the reservoir other than to swim some considerable distance to the shoreline. And there also appear to be no orange lifebuoy rings on or around the dam wall. Four West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue crews were at the dam yesterday, assisted by Littleborough crew. And, Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed they sent officers from their Hazardous Area Response Team. A police spokesperson said on Wednesday: "Shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon police were called to a report a girl had fallen into water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden. "Emergency services are currently on the scene, with searches ongoing to locate the girl. Anyone who has any information which could assist ongoing searches is asked to contact Calderdale District Police online or by calling 101 referencing police log 797 of today. 4
