AFTER police confirmed that an incident that happened in Grays on Wednesday (19 July) ended with the death of a young girl, a member of her family has gone public with a message thanking the emergency services and staff at Basildon Hospital for their efforts to save her.

An alarm was raised early on Wednesday morning and an integrated operation quickly took place involving police, the fire service and the ambulance service - including the Essex Air Ambulance.

The sixteen-year-old, who attended Hathaway Academy where she was an accomploshed student, was rushed from her home in Thurloe Walk to Basildon Hospital but her death was confirmed later in the day.

In a message posted on social media, an aunt of the girl has passed on her family's thanks to all concerned, led by the hospital's A& E matron Claire Turner.

The message to Clair reads: "Dear Claire, you stayed with my family all morning and into the afternoon.

"My 16-year-old niece had died, suddenly and unexpectedly. You took us through the worst, unimaginable hours we have ever experienced in our lives.

"You went above, beyond and yet further again to be with and to help all of us. I cannot express to you how your support, compassion, guidance and realness – well, what that did for all of us and now, on reflection, what it means to us.

"We would love to somehow thank you but no words or gifts seem enough.

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"We don't know how you do your job every day, but we are so very, very, VERY grateful that you do.

"Without you, I'm sure we would have felt even more lost than we did yesterday and still do.

"Please could you also extend our deepest gratitude to your nurse team, doctors, chaplain, paramedics at Basildon A & E and police Officers Sam and Paul.

"For these reasons, and many others I haven't even mentioned who contributed to the incredible effort, we really do have the best in this country, and it's not said or appreciated enough.

"I'll be hand-delivering this letter to you but I hope you don't mind if I share with our local community how wonderful and how incredibly good at your job you, and your team are. Yours very gratefully,"