A headteacher has paid a moving tribute to a ten-year-old girl who drowned in a swimming pool.

He described her as "the epitome of everything a young girl should be".

Alexandra Burt, ten, of Jarvis Field, Little Baddow, was at a swimming club training session on Monday evening when she was taken ill while in the water, a police spokesman said.

She was assisted by two lifeguards and two doctors who were at the pool at New Hall School in White Hart Lane, Boreham, and was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

However, she was pronounced dead on arrival. A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death to be "as a result of immersion".

Alexandra, a year six pupil at St John's School in Little Baddow Road, Danbury, was "caring, beautifully polite and from a lovely family", headteacher Keith Parsons said.

"She was a sheer joy to have in school and it was a privilege to be involved in her education. Her sister Victoria and family will need our love and support over the coming weeks."

An inquest was due to be opened today.

Published Wednesday, September 15, 2004

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