Schoolgirl who died at Drayton Manor named as Evha Jannath

Police have confirmed the identity of the girl who died at Drayton Manor Theme Park as 11-year-old Evha Jannath.

The schoolgirl fell out of a boat on the park's Splash Canyon water ride during a school trip on Tuesday.

Staffordshire Police said she was rescued from the water and taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital where she later died.

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A statement released by Evha's family said their "world was torn apart" following her death.

"Words cannot describe the pain and loss we feel. We are devastated that we will not see our beautiful little girl again," they said.

Evha was visiting the park while on a school trip with Jameah Girls Academy, an integrated Islamic day school for girls in Leicester.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Evha almost missed the trip due to not having suitable clothing and had to borrow some from her school at the last minute.

Although details of the accident are still emerging, one parent at the Jameah Girls Academy told MailOnline that Evha fell into the water when the circular boat hit a rock.

"The girl had [stood] up to change seats", she recalled.

Staffordshire Police have confirmed that a Health and Safety Executive investigation will now take place.

In response to the tragic event, the school released a statement expressing their "deepest sadness" and "shock".

It requested that Evha's family and the school community be given "time to grieve" and has today closed its doors.

The theme park also remains closed for the day as a "mark of respect".

Keith Vaz, Labour candidate for Leicester East, echoed the school's statement, adding that "our thoughts and prayers are with [Evha's] family, friends and relatives."

According to The Independent, the theme park's company director George Bryan "appeared shaken" when making an announcement yesterday.

He declared that he was "truly shocked and devastated" by the death, the first at a UK theme park since 2004, says the BBC.

Last year a crash on the Smiler ride at Alton Towers seriously injured four passengers including two young women who both had a leg amputated.