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Harlow bouncy castle death: Parents of seven-year-old Summer Grant pay tribute to their 'beautiful angel'

Summer Grant died of multiple injuries after the bouncy castle she was playing on during an Easter funfair blew away 

Chloe Farand
Monday 28 March 2016 09:56 EDT
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Summer Grant was killed when the bouncy castle she was playing on flew away
Summer Grant was killed when the bouncy castle she was playing on flew away (PA)

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The parents of the seven-year-old girl, who died after the bouncy castle she was playing on was blown away, have paid tribute to their "beautiful angel".

Summer Grant, from Norwich, Norfolk, died from multiple injuries at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, after a strong gust of wind blew the inflatable castle 150m across Harlow Town Park, Essex, at an Easter funfair on Saturday.

Her mother Cara Blackie said she was "truly heartbroken" at the death of her daughter.

"Words just can't explain how I am feeling right now, life is just truly cruel. Summer was a bright beautiful and most loving little girl it so unfair that you have been taken it just doesn't make sense," she said.

Summer's father Lee Grant said: "I never thought our beautiful angel would be taken away from us or that we would outlive her.

"She was the most happy, polite and beautiful girl in the world. I still can't come to terms she's not here. "We all love you so so much, you will always be with us; love you to the moon and back, all our love Daddy, Mummy and family."

A man, 27, and a 24-year-old woman, both from Cambridgeshire and understood to have been working for the family-run bouncy castle firm at the fair, were arrested by police on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence but have now been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Hellesdon Parish Council has also expressed their "heartfelt condolences".

Police and forensic officers work at the scene where the bouncy castle blew away
Police and forensic officers work at the scene where the bouncy castle blew away (PA)

A statement from chairman Shelagh Gurney, on behalf the council, said: "There is no greater loss than the death of a child. We cannot imagine the tremendous grief experienced by this family, especially at Easter when families are together.

"Our thoughts are with them at this sad time."

A close neighbour of Summer's grandmother, Rachel Chamberlain, described the little girl as "pretty and intelligent".

"It's tragic what has happened and my prayers go out the family. To lose a child at that age is horrible. I can't imagine what they're going through," she added.

A JustGiving page has been set up by friends of the family to help pay for funeral costs.

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are appealing for anyone, who took videos at the event in Harlow Town Park on Saturday to contact them.

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