A SCHOOLGIRL who fell into the water at a reservoir was taking pictures with her dad while enjoying a half-term walk, according to witnesses.
The 13-year-old vanished after falling into the water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon.
Cops and emergency crews have been desperately scouring the reservoir to try and find the missing teenager but have yet to discover any signs of her.
Witnesses have described how the teenager had “a really bright future” and that she had been enjoying a half-term walk with her dad when tragedy struck.
Sue Ferris, 80, who has lived in a house directly overlooking the parapet for 20 years, helped comfort the girl’s family yesterday afternoon after witnessing her fall.
Mrs Ferris said: “The little girl was posing for photographs before this happened. Her dad had been taking the photographs.”
After speaking to the girl’s family, she said that they told her the teenager was 13 years old and from Halifax, around six miles north-east of the dam.
Mrs Ferris explained: “She had decided that she wanted to walk round the reservoir with her dad because it was half term, but the rest of the family hadn’t wanted to go.
“She had just got into grammar school, they told me. They were very proud of her. She had a really bright future.
“It was just dad and daughter at the reservoir when she fell in. The rest of the family came after the accident.
“Dad had been taking photographs, according to a witness, and he also heard dad screaming and shouting her name after she fell in – but he did not go into the water.
“He had some kind of heart problem and was clutching his chest soon afterwards and was taken away by ambulance.”
Mrs Ferris criticised the safety at the dam, saying changes had encouraged people to stand on the wall next to the water.
She said: “It is disgraceful that there are no life buoy rings anywhere on the parapet.
“Yorkshire Water added the white metal railings on top of the stone structure some years ago now.
“But it only adds about half a foot to the barrier height and actually helps people to climb onto the wall.
“It gives them something to grip on to.
“All it is doing, is helping people to stand on the wall.”
Mrs Ferris explained that the reservoir is typically much deeper but that recent dry weather had revealed the beach – which is usually submerged.
She said that a firefighter told her yesterday the depth of the water – where the teenager fell – was 140ft.
Mrs Ferris added she comforted the girl’s sister and mother, offering them tea and water as rescue divers trawled the waters.
Cops had first been called to the reservoir at around 1.20pm on Wednesday, with crews remaining throughout the afternoon and evening to try and find the missing girl.
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GettyThe 13-year-old fell into the water at Baitings Dam near Rippendon, West Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon[/caption] Read More Details
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