Family pay tribute to fall girl

Tia Nagurski died after she fell from a tree near her home

The family of a six-year-old girl who died after falling from a tree near electricity cables in Londonderry have said she was an "inspiration" to them.

Tia Nagurski was climbing a tree in a residential area of Ballymagroarty when she fell.

She was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital for treatment at 1850 BST on Thursday, but died a short time later. Police say Tia may have been electrocuted.

Her family said she was her mother and father's "blue eyed princess".

A statement released on behalf of the Nagurski family said that she was "dearly loved" by her three brothers and "her wider circle of family and friends".

"She was a beautiful little girl who was full of fun," the statement added.

"She enjoyed dressing up, singing and playing with her friends at school and at home."

The Nagurski family said Tia had "lived life to the full and enjoyed every second she had with us".

"We will sorely miss hugs from our affectionate little angel and hope she watches over us as we try to go on with our lives without her."

Accident

Earlier, Sinn Fein councillor Billy Page had said the electricity cables were entwined in the tree Tia was climbing.

"(The trees) are on a high banking, so when the child is on the banking she is up a number of feet," he said.

"She hadn't to go very far up into the tree."

Amanda Sheerin, whose children were with Tia when she fell, said they had been playing in her backyard shortly before the accident took place.

"They ran down the banking and I would say it was no more than three or four minutes when I heard my eldest screaming 'get an ambulance she is electrified'," she said.

Sinn Fein councillor Billy Page called the accident a tragedy

"I came out and ran round to the rear and Tia was stuck in a tree."

Father Sean McKenna, who visited the Nagurski family, said they were devastated.

"It is a parent's nightmare that anything would happen to their child," he said.

Fr McKenna said he would be going to St Eithne's Primary School later on Friday to offer comfort and support to Tia's classmates and teachers.

Roy Coulter, NIE Safety and Risk Manager, said: "On behalf of Northern Ireland Electricity, I would like to offer every sympathy to the family of the victim of this tragic accident.

"NIE is co-operating fully with the PSNI and the Health and Safety Executive in their investigations."