A two-month-old baby girl has died after suffering a cardiac arrest at West Midlands Safari Park today (April 1).
Emergency services were called to the park in Bewdley, Worcestershire this morning with the child being airlifted to hospital at 11.30am where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators have confirmed the baby’s death is not being treated as suspicious.
In a statement provided at around 12.30pm, the safari park announced that a guest had been ‘taken ill’.
They tweeted:
We are currently supporting the emergency services with a guest that has been taken ill onsite.
We’ll provide more information when there are further updates.
Thank you for your understanding at this time.
GUEST INFORMATION:
We are currently supporting the emergency services with a guest that has been taken ill onsite.
We'll provide more information when there are further updates.
Thank you for your understanding at this time. pic.twitter.com/KK2kNGxu7n
— West Midland Safari (@WestMidSafari) April 1, 2018
West Mercia Police also released a statement confirming they had responded to an incident at the park after being called by paramedics at 11.21am.
Inspector Gurjit Singh said:
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the girl at this tragic time. Police officers are offering them support.
I would like to thank staff and visitors at the park for their support and understanding while emergency services attended to the girl.
The incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time.
I would request the family’s privacy is respected at this time.
A two-month-old girl has died in hospital after going into cardiac arrest at West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley this morning https://t.co/2lULCzc3xd
— West Mercia Police (@WMerciaPolice) April 1, 2018
Eyewitnesses earlier on Twitter said the area was being evacuated while paramedics dealt with an emergency.
Matt Morris tweeted:
Something going on at West Midlands Safari Park this morning, air ambulance, a couple of normal ambulances and police cars. Hope all OK.
They now appear to be evacuating the area around the ‘Lost City Plaza’ and sending the people a different way into the site.
They’ve evacuated everything one from the area by the penguins/aquarium and appear to have sent them to a different entrance. Everything else open as usual.
Something going on at West Midlands Safari Park this morning, air ambulance, a couple of normal ambulances and police cars. Hope all OK. pic.twitter.com/qamiVC6RCE
— Matt Morris (@Sadlybrokeboy) April 1, 2018
They now appear to be evacuating the area around the ‘lost city plaza’ and sending the people a different way into the site.
— Matt Morris (@Sadlybrokeboy) April 1, 2018
Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.