Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice An MP has shared her "distress" after a 17-year-old girl died in a fatal stabbing in a park. Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at around 9.25pm last night (Friday, March 1) to reports of a stabbing in a park close to St Neot’s Road in Harold Hill. A police cordon and tent remains in place just metres away from the children's play area. The victim, a 17-year-old girl, was found at the park by emergency services and rushed to an East London hospital. She sadly didn't survive the journey and was pronounced dead at 10.26pm. MP speaks out Julia Lopez, the Conservative MP for Hornchurch and Upminster has now tweeted her thoughts on the tragic incident. She said: "The whole community will share my distress over the utterly senseless loss of a young woman from a fatal stabbing in Harold Hill last night. "I’ve spoken this morning to Deputy Mayor for Policing and contacted Borough Commander, who ask people with info to call Crimestoppers anonymously." The latest from police A spokesperson for the Met Police said: "Officers attended and found a girl, believed to be 17, suffering from a stab injury. "She was pronounced dead at 10.26pm while en route to an east London hospital. "Her next of kin have been informed. "A post-mortem examination will be held in due course and police await formal identification. "The Homicide and Major Crime Command has been informed. "At this early stage, there have been no arrests and enquiries continue. "Anyone with information is asked to contact officers via 101 quoting reference 7828/1Mar. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."<doc-sep>13:42 Girl's boyfriend 'did everything he could to help her' More from SWNS reporter Laura Sharman. Teresa found the victim laying on her back in the corner of the park with her boyfriend beside her. She said she put the girl in the recovery position and administered CPR. Teresa said: “People are scared to help, but all I was thinking with my mother’s instinct was ‘I need to help’. “Her boyfriend did everything he could. “When I came over she was on her back so I moved her onto her side. “Then the boyfriend’s friend came over with some kitchen roll. “Then there was another girl and a man came over in a van to help and took his coat off to keep it on the wound and keep it compressed as much as they could. “I think he was the dad of one of the boyfriend’s friends. “I was just trying to keep her legs in the recovery position because she was heavy, like a dead weight. “Just as the ambulance crew turned up, she had gone. It was devastating.” Paramedics battled to save the victim who died in the play park. Teresa added: “My heart is with the family how something so devastating like that could happen to a young girl.” The brave resident said it is the first time in the 16 years she has lived by the park that “anything like this has happened” and said she “hopes it is also the last.”<doc-sep>"It is becoming more and more like central London here. Children did not fight or anything and you did not hear of people being mugged. There has never been knife crime here before - it is just in the last six or seven months.<doc-sep>Harold Hill stabbing: Teenage girl dies after attack in London park top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. London once again became the theatre of violence last night in what is now the 18th murder in the capital in 2019. Police officers rushed to East London after being called by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) at 9.25pm, Scotland Yard said. They found Jodie Chesney in a park in Harold Hill, close to St Neot's Road. Paramedics frantically tried to revive the girl, aged 17, but she was pronounced dead at 10.26pm. This latest senseless act of violence sparked a new wave of criticism against London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 21:25hrs on Friday, 1 March, to reports of a stabbing in a park close to St Neot's Road in Harold Hill. "Officers attended and found a girl, believed to be aged 17, suffering from a stab injury. "She was pronounced dead at 22:26hrs. A teenager was killed after being stabbed in London on Friday night "A post-mortem examination will be held in due course." Police have sealed off the park and forensics officers are at the scene. A witness said she heard cries of "help me" and a "disturbing" scream at the same time the attack is believed to have taken place. Speaking to Sky News, Krystle Pasha, who lives close to the scene of the stabbing, said: "I heard a lot of loud arguing, a lot of loud noise, shouting, followed by a really loud scream. "The scream was very disturbing to hear. Then I heard someone shouting out; 'Help me, help me'." Police cordoned off the park where the teenager was stabbed Ms Pasha, who said there are often young people in the park but she has never heard of problems involving gangs in the area, added: "To hear what I heard last night, and to have it right opposite me, is very upsetting indeed." Scotland Yard said the Homicide and Major Crime Command has launched an investigation. No arrest has been made so far. The statement continued: "An investigation has been launched by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC). "At this early stage, there have been no arrests and enquiries continue. Police was called by the London Ambulance Service following reports of a stabbing "Anyone with information should call the HMCC Incident Room on 020 8345 3775, Tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111." Hairdresser Ellie Best, 17, who didn't see what happen nor knew the victim, said she was left "shocked" by last night's events. Revealing she and her family had moved from East London and the knife crime there for the "good strong community" life in Harold Hill, she said: "No one should have to get a call to say that their child has been killed. "It is becoming more and more like central London here. Children did not fight or anything and you did not hear of people being mugged. "There has never been knife crime here before - it is just in the last six or seven months. "I worry for the younger youths. Police need to talk to them about the dangers of carrying knives because the message is not getting through." Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick Councillor Paul McGeary, who represents the Gooshays ward where the killing happened, arrived with fellow councillor Tele Lawal to lay flowers at the scene. A small group of people was spotted crying and hugging each other at the cordon with the message "we love you forever in our hearts". Mr McGeary spoke of his "shock and horror" that the killing had happened in the semi-rural outer London borough. He said: "This is not something that happens here and I am just completely surprised. "It is very shocking for the whole community. I think people will be talking to each other and hopefully providing support to the relatives if the unfortunate person who died." A resident, who lives opposite the park and did not know the victim, described the death as "a terrible thing". The man, who did not want to give his name, said: "She was just 17 and just starting her life. How could anyone do that to a woman? It is disgusting. "It is happening a lot in London lately. It is becoming a normal thing and that is terrifying." Harold Hill stabbing: Jodie Chesney identified as victim Jodie's grandmother Debbie Chesney also appealed to anyone with information into the attack on her youngest granddaughter to contact the police. In an emotional message shared on Facebook, Mrs Chesney said: "This was our youngest granddaughter. "How have we come to this point where kids can't have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack? "If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. "We don't want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now. "This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence." Officers found the girl suffering from a stab injury in a Romford Park London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote on Twitter he was "devastated" by the fatal stabbing, adding: "It fills me with anger that violent criminals are targeting young Londoners with their whole lives before them. "I encourage anyone with information to contact the police." He told Sky News this morning: “This is a tragic and senseless loss of life, we’ve got a 17-year-old girl who lost her life at the hand of someone who had a knife.<doc-sep>
T ributes have been paid to a 17-year-old girl who was knifed to death in "tragic" attack at an east London park. The teenager has been named by police as Jodie Chensey. Police and paramedics raced to the scene on Friday night after they were called to reports of a stabbing in a park close to St Neot’s Road shortly before 9.30pm. Once there, officers found the teen suffering from a fatal stab injury – making Ms Chesney the 18th homicide in London this year. Paul Farenden, 54, said his 49-year-old wife Teresa had rushed to the scene near their home to see if she could help after she heard screaming. Floral tributes at the scene after a teenage girl was stabbed to death / PA He added: "My wife asked if everything was alright and one of the boys said 'no, my girlfriend has been stabbed'. "She put her in the recovery position and waited for the ambulance to turn up. I think she tried to resuscitate her. "She thought it was all over then and it would be alright." But Mr Farenden said they later heard the teenager had died. Police at the scene in Harold Hill He said of his wife: "She is dealing with it better than she was last night. She was shocked with the amount of blood there. "Normally you do not see anything like this in the park. "This just should not happen." Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross, of the East Area Command Unit, said: "I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girl's family and friends. Her death is a tragedy. "I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible." Neighbours said young people often "hang out" in the park, and if they are too loud they are usually moved on without any trouble. People place flowers at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Harold Hill / PA Hairdresser Ellie Best, 17, said she and her family had moved to the area for the "good strong community" life in Harold Hill. A "shocked" Miss Best said: "No-one should have to get a call to say that their child has been killed. "It is becoming more and more like central London here. Children did not fight or anything and you did not hear of people being mugged. There has never been knife crime here before - it is just in the last six or seven months. "I worry for the younger youths. Police need to talk to them about the dangers of carrying knives because the message is not getting through." A small group of people cried and hugged each other after leaving flowers at the cordon with the message: "We love you forever in our hearts." Another message attached to a floral tribute said: "You are so strong. We will always remember you." Police stand guard at a cordon in St Neot's Road, Harold Hill / PA The park, which has a playground at its centre and is known locally as Amy's Park, has been cordoned off with police tape and is being guarded by officers for the forensic investigation. Councillor Paul McGeary, who represents the Gooshays ward where the incident occurred, arrived with fellow councillor Tele Lawal to lay flowers at the scene. Mr McGeary spoke of his "shock and horror" that the killing had happened in the semi-rural outer London borough. He said: "This is not something that happens here and I am just completely surprised." He could not say if the death was gang-related, but described it as "tragic". Ms Lawal said the park, which she herself used to play in, was "not an area where you will frequently see violence like this". The 22-year-old added: "It is going to shock our community but it just shows the strain that is happening with young people, with our police and the resources we need in our community to tackle violence like this." Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 020 8345 3775, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.