Family vigil for injured girl

POLICE investigating a river accident which left a teenage girl fighting for her life said today they still have a “considerable amount” of work to do.

They have not decided whether a prosecution should be brought over the accident, which left 14-year-old Rebecca Coles with brain injuries, a fractured skull and a broken leg.

Her parents Steve and Julie Coles are by keeping a round-the-clock vigil by her bed at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

A police spokeswoman said Rebecca, of Langdon Hills, Basildon, a pupil at Shenfield High, was still critically ill but doctors had reported that her condition is “improving”.

It is understood the medical staff have managed to stabilise her and have carried out all the operations on her that they need to do for now. She is conscious some of the time and the signs are more positive.

The accident happened on Sunday May 11 afternoon near Levington Marina as a speedboat towed Rebecca in an inflatable rubber ring and she was in collision with a passing yacht.

She was brought ashore at the Suffolk Yacht Harbour and the air ambulance was called.

She was then taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance but was soon after transferred to Addenbrooke's.

Police have launched an investigation and have been examining CCTV footage from cameras kept along the river banks to monitor shipping, and have also appealed for witnesses.

Officers have spoken to most of the people involved and are still trying to build up a picture of what happened.

“We need to be able to say exactly what happened and there is still a considerable amount of work to do at the moment,” said the police spokeswoman.

“No decisions have yet been taken over whether there will be any further action.”

Anyone with information should call Felixstowe CID on 01473 613500.

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