An 11-year-old girl was found dead in the Gore Water at Gore Glen Woodland Park, near Gorebridge, Scotland, on Thursday, Aug. 6, police confirmed.
Police Scotland said emergency services were alerted after concerns were raised about the child and responders arrived at the park — about 10 miles south of Edinburgh — at roughly 12:40 p.m. local time. At approximately 4:25 p.m., teams located the girl's body near the Shank Bridge, which crosses the small river that runs through the scenic site.
Gore Glen Woodland Park in ScotlandCredit: Shutterstock
Official Response
Police Scotland told PEOPLE the death is being treated as "unexplained" while inquiries continue and that the girl's family has been informed. Her identity has not been released.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it dispatched two appliances to support response efforts and left after ensuring the area was safe. The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that two ambulances, a special operations team and a critical care paramedic attended the scene.
Gore Glen Woodland Park in ScotlandCredit: GoogleMaps
Local Impact
Local media reported that traffic was diverted and access points to the park were closed during the search. Emergency services could be seen on the Shank Bridge, which forms part of the A7 road linking Edinburgh with England.
Local councillor Ellen Scott described the incident as "a great tragedy for all the family" and said her thoughts and prayers are with them at this devastating time.
After the discovery, members of the community left tributes at the bridge. Gore Glen Woodland Park is a popular attraction for its panoramic views of the Pentland Hills and an eight-mile walking route that passes the National Mining Museum Scotland.
Police inquiries remain ongoing as officers work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the girl's death.
