A WORCESTER schoolgirl has died after a day trip to the seaside ended in tragedy yesterday.

Five-year-old Lelaina Hall, of Oldbury Park Primary School, was trapped in mud on a Somerset beach. A male family friend, who has not been named, was also rescued from the beach at Brean, near Burnham-on-Sea.

The alarm was raised by a beach warden who regularly patrols the area.

He spotted the pair about a mile from the shore during low tide at lunchtime yesterday.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor winched the man to safety and continued their search for the girl. She was found about 200 metres away floating in the water.

It is understood a woman and other children with them at the time were not injured. The man and girl were airlifted to Weston General Hospital in nearby Weston-super-Mare.

The girl died at the intensive care unit at 5.50pm after a three-hour battle.

The man is said to be in a comfortable condition.

Members of the Burnham Coastguard mud rescue team had attempted to get to the trapped day trippers using specialist equipment that stops them from sinking into the mud.

"People can get caught out because they do not realise the dangers," said a Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman.

"The girl had just arrived and appeared to have become excited and ran out onto the mud.

"She got stuck by the edge of the sea."

Lelaina's headteacher said the school was thinking of her family.

"Obviously we are all very saddened by the death of Lelaina," said Jacqueline Ludlow.

"She will be greatly missed by her classmates and her teacher. Condolences and thoughts are with her parents and family at this dreadful time," she added.