HEALTH and safety chiefs today confirmed they were investigating why 15-year-old Down's syndrome sufferer Salma Saleem, who plunged 30ft to her death from a fairground ferris wheel, was riding in a carriage alone.

Officers from the Health and Safety Executive revealed one of the questions they would seek to answer as part of an extensive inquiry into the incident was why the teenager was not accompanied on the Big Wheel style ride at Warrington's Gulliver's World theme park.

The schoolgirl, of Manchester Road, Nelson, fell from the carriage at 4.30pm on Saturday.

She died in Warrington District General Hospital in the early hours on Monday.

A post mortem examination carried out yesterday confirmed that Salma died as a result of head injuries and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.

Police said the teenager travelled to the theme park with a number of other disabled children as part of a trip organised by the Nelson-based Faisalabad Welfare Association Disabled Children's Scheme.

Directors of Gulliver's World said that no equipment failure nor mechanical fault was involved in the incident.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We cannot comment on the details of the investigation as it is still ongoing and could be for some time.

"We will be looking at every single aspect of the incident including the fact of why she was alone in the carriage."

Salma suffered head injuries and police said she fell 30ft from a two-seater carriage after the safety bar came away.

Shamim Ahmed, leader of the Faisalabad group, a registered charity based in Manchester Road, has also launched his own inquiry into the incident.

He described Salma as a "nice, likeable youngster" and the incident a "terrible tragedy".

Mr Ahmed said she had been with her mother and sister and previously taken part in other trips organised by the children's scheme.

A spokesman for Gulliver's World said: "Our first thoughts go to the family and friends to whom we offer our heartfelt condolences and sympathies.

"Gulliver's World has co-operated fully with the authorities investigating the incident.

"We shall ensure that all avenues of investigation are followed.

"We can confirm though that no equipment failure or mechanical fault was involved in the incident."

Warrington Police said they could not confirm what caused the accident and that a joint investigation between themselves and the Health and Safety Executive was continuing.

The carriage and safety bar were taken away for forensic examination.