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Mum of trapeze tragedy girl plans campaign

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 30 October 2003

TRAGEDY: Charlotte Wright

THE mother of an eight-year-old girl who died while on a school adventure holiday is demanding new laws to prevent a similar tragedy happening again.

Charlotte Wright was killed while on a trip to the PGL Centre at Hinehead, Surrey.

Coroner Michael Burgess recorded a verdict of death by natural causes last week after Charlotte died of sudden heart failure while scaling a 20ft tree at the centre on May 5 last year.

Mr Burgess said there was no evidence that Charlotte's involvement in the activity caused sudden cardiac arrest. But Charlotte's mother Karen Williams wants younger children banned from taking part in more challenging activities.

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She said: "I was appalled when I went to the site and saw the activities they were asking children as young as six to do."

Mrs Williams, who lives in Sheerness, plans to visit the centre again soon with her local MP Derek Wyatt. She added: "I am asking every parent to evaluate the situation and decide if they want their child to participate in these or not."

She said children aged between six and 18 were using the activity equipment. She added: "It's ludicrous because a six-year-old should never be asked to do what an 18-year-old can do."

Martin Hudson, PGL Travel's director of corporate affairs, said: "The circumstances surrounding Charlotte's intimely death were fully invesigated at the inquest and the experts present agreed that there was no proven link between her death and the trapeze activity.

"PGL has similar apparatus at most of its centres and several hundred eight-year-olds have enjoyed participating in recent years without mishap. They are connected to a safety rope and can pull out at any stage if they wish.

"Trapeze is an accepted activity at many other centres throughout the UK and elsewhere in the world."

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