Investigation Launched After Four-Year-Old’s Death at Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent

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A four-year-old girl tragically died following an incident at Waterworld, a prominent indoor water park in Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, on 4 August 2025, prompting a multi-agency investigation. The child was found unconscious in the Lagoon area of the Aqua Park at approximately 16:15 British Summer Time (BST) and, despite receiving immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from lifeguards and staff, passed away shortly after being taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital. Staffordshire Police and Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s environmental health team are conducting a thorough health and safety investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident.

Staffordshire Police were alerted to the emergency at 16:20 BST on Monday, with reports of a girl in critical condition. Waterworld staff and bystanders initiated CPR before the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) arrived, deploying two ambulances, a paramedic officer, and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford. Paramedics continued advanced life support during transport to hospital, but despite their efforts, the child could not be saved, according to a WMAS spokesperson cited by Nottinghamshire Live. The girl’s next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers, police confirmed.

Waterworld, which describes itself as the UK’s largest indoor water park, closed on Tuesday, 5 August, out of respect for the family, automatically refunding bookings for that day. A spokesperson stated on social media, “It is with great sadness that we learned of this young girl’s passing this evening. All our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during these extremely difficult times.” The park announced it would reopen its aqua park, mini golf, and mini village on Wednesday, 6 August, adding, “Resuming daily life and operations remains incredibly difficult.” Waterworld is cooperating fully with authorities to understand the incident’s cause.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council confirmed its environmental health team is working with Staffordshire Police and Waterworld to conduct a “full health and safety investigation,” as reported by the BBC. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, with police urging the public to avoid speculation. Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Lucy Maskew stated, “Our thoughts are with the family at this terribly sad time. We are now making enquiries and looking to establish the circumstances of the incident.” Witnesses are asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 460 of 4 August.

The incident has deeply affected the local community, with Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Steve Watkins expressing sorrow: “We were all devastated to hear of the death of a four-year-old girl at Waterworld. This is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.” A parent who visited the park earlier that day told The Telegraph of her concerns about the wave pool’s intensity, noting difficulty keeping her children safe due to strong currents, though it remains unclear if this contributed to the incident. The ongoing investigation will examine safety protocols at the Lagoon area, where waves reach up to 1.4 metres, to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.