The parents of a seven-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on a group of children in a Southend park say they are 'still living the nightmare of the day'. Leonna Ruka was visiting relatives on June 28 last year when the tree collapsed at Chalkwell Park, trapping her and several others underneath its branches.
Leonna was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. A six-year-old girl caught beneath the tree was left fighting for her life, and three more children suffered minor injuries.
Heartbreaking Tribute from Parents
Leonna's parents, Leo and Floreta Ruka, said: 'There are no words that can truly capture the pain of losing a child. The last year has been the longest and most difficult of our lives. Not a minute has passed without thinking about her.'
They added: 'Not a day has passed without feeling the weight of her absence. While the world has continued to move forward, for those who loved Leonna, there remains a space that can never be filled. People often talk about the passage of time, but there is no measure of time that can lessen the love we have for our daughter or the pain of missing her.'
Leonna's Legacy
Paying tribute, they described Leonna as 'an extraordinary person whose kindness, loving heart, caring nature and positive energy brightened the lives of everyone around her'. They said: 'We watched her grow, supported her dreams, celebrated her achievements, and loved her with all our hearts. We remain profoundly proud of the person Leonna was and the impact she had on those fortunate enough to know her. She had a future that should have been hers. We think about that every day.'
The family said: 'We know her legacy will continue to live on through the people who loved her and through all the lives she touched. We will continue to carry her with us in everything we do, and we hope that the love and light she brought into the world will never be forgotten.'
Leonna was our daughter, our pride, and our joy. We miss her beyond words, we love her beyond measure, and we will honour her memory for the rest of our lives.'
