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| Death of boy hit by mirror an accident - inquest | Death of boy hit by mirror an accident - inquest |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Freddie Farrow was killed after being struck by a 80kg (176lb) mirror when it fell inside a department store | Freddie Farrow was killed after being struck by a 80kg (176lb) mirror when it fell inside a department store |
| The death of a five-year-old boy who was struck by a falling mirror in a department store was an accident, an inquest jury concluded. | The death of a five-year-old boy who was struck by a falling mirror in a department store was an accident, an inquest jury concluded. |
| Freddie Farrow died from a catastrophic brain injury sustained on 27 July 2021 when a mirror fell on him in Fenwick in Colchester, Essex. | Freddie Farrow died from a catastrophic brain injury sustained on 27 July 2021 when a mirror fell on him in Fenwick in Colchester, Essex. |
| After a five-day inquest at Essex Coroner's Court, the foreperson of the jury said: "The mirror was designed to be attached to a column and stand on the ground, and the ends had not been correctly installed." | After a five-day inquest at Essex Coroner's Court, the foreperson of the jury said: "The mirror was designed to be attached to a column and stand on the ground, and the ends had not been correctly installed." |
| "We are trying to live our lives as we know Freddie would have wanted us to, with love, kindness and with joy," said Freddie's mother Natasha Ingham, speaking after the hearing. | "We are trying to live our lives as we know Freddie would have wanted us to, with love, kindness and with joy," said Freddie's mother Natasha Ingham, speaking after the hearing. |
| "As a family, we think about Freddie every day, and we remember him as he was, as a loving, caring and fun little boy who had his entire life in front of him. | "As a family, we think about Freddie every day, and we remember him as he was, as a loving, caring and fun little boy who had his entire life in front of him. |
| "His loss has left a hole that can never, and will never, be filled." | "His loss has left a hole that can never, and will never, be filled." |
| Freddie was due to start his second year at Gosbecks Primary School in Colchester at the time. | |
| Fenwick is a luxury department store in Colchester city centre | Fenwick is a luxury department store in Colchester city centre |
| Ms Ingham thanked Lee Compton, a Colchester police community support officer, who had tried to save Freddie. | Ms Ingham thanked Lee Compton, a Colchester police community support officer, who had tried to save Freddie. |
| "I know he did everything he possibly could… his actions may have given us the six days we had by Freddie's bedside to say goodbye." | "I know he did everything he possibly could… his actions may have given us the six days we had by Freddie's bedside to say goodbye." |
| She also thanked two off duty doctors, staff at Fenwicks and the emergency services including the Essex Air Ambulance. | She also thanked two off duty doctors, staff at Fenwicks and the emergency services including the Essex Air Ambulance. |
| "Their efforts gave us additional precious time with Freddie," she added. | "Their efforts gave us additional precious time with Freddie," she added. |
| At the end of the hearing in Chelmsford, senior coroner Lincoln Brookes asked the court to stand in silence in remembrance of the five-year-old. | At the end of the hearing in Chelmsford, senior coroner Lincoln Brookes asked the court to stand in silence in remembrance of the five-year-old. |
| He told Freddie's family the inquest was "never going to answer all of the questions" they might have, and offered them his "deepest condolences". | He told Freddie's family the inquest was "never going to answer all of the questions" they might have, and offered them his "deepest condolences". |
| Freddie's mum said: "We are trying to live our lives as we know Freddie would have wanted us to, with love, kindness and with joy" | Freddie's mum said: "We are trying to live our lives as we know Freddie would have wanted us to, with love, kindness and with joy" |
| The mirror was in the High Street shop's lingerie department and was 2.6m (8ft 5in) high. | The mirror was in the High Street shop's lingerie department and was 2.6m (8ft 5in) high. |
| Freddie was in the shop with his mother and her friend and had touched the mirror "with very little force" before it toppled, the hearing was told. | Freddie was in the shop with his mother and her friend and had touched the mirror "with very little force" before it toppled, the hearing was told. |
| He was taken to Colchester Hospital and then transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where he died on 2 August 2021. | He was taken to Colchester Hospital and then transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where he died on 2 August 2021. |
| Freddie was celebrating the school summer holiday when he was killed | Freddie was celebrating the school summer holiday when he was killed |
| The mirror, which was installed in 2016, was estimated to weigh about 80kg (176lb), temporary Det Ch Insp Michael Pannell had told the inquest. | The mirror, which was installed in 2016, was estimated to weigh about 80kg (176lb), temporary Det Ch Insp Michael Pannell had told the inquest. |
| David King, a health and safety executive investigator, told jurors it was unsecured and designed to be "virtually upright". | David King, a health and safety executive investigator, told jurors it was unsecured and designed to be "virtually upright". |
| He said other mirrors at the shop were inspected after Freddie's death, and nine out of 14 were found to have "some form of distortion to their top fixing boxes". | He said other mirrors at the shop were inspected after Freddie's death, and nine out of 14 were found to have "some form of distortion to their top fixing boxes". |
| During the inquest, Mr King agreed with a barrister representing Fenwick that the mirror had been "wrongly installed", adding it "wasn't safe". | During the inquest, Mr King agreed with a barrister representing Fenwick that the mirror had been "wrongly installed", adding it "wasn't safe". |
| The court also heard from Ian Francis, an operations manager at the shop. | The court also heard from Ian Francis, an operations manager at the shop. |
| He said the mirror was "very large and seemingly well engineered" and that he had not been made aware of any issues prior to the incident. | He said the mirror was "very large and seemingly well engineered" and that he had not been made aware of any issues prior to the incident. |
| "Had I been made aware of any worries with the mirrors, I would have investigated and alerted my line manager of any issues," Mr Francis added. | "Had I been made aware of any worries with the mirrors, I would have investigated and alerted my line manager of any issues," Mr Francis added. |
| Ch Supt Stuart Weaver, from Essex Police, said: "July 27, 2021, remains one of the most devastating days many officers in Colchester have had in policing. | Ch Supt Stuart Weaver, from Essex Police, said: "July 27, 2021, remains one of the most devastating days many officers in Colchester have had in policing. |
| "Freddie's death is a tragedy, and it is one which we will never forget." | "Freddie's death is a tragedy, and it is one which we will never forget." |
| Fenwick's executive deputy chairwoman, Mia Fenwick, said: "Our primary thoughts throughout this tragic accident have been for Freddie, his family and friends. | Fenwick's executive deputy chairwoman, Mia Fenwick, said: "Our primary thoughts throughout this tragic accident have been for Freddie, his family and friends. |
| "We want to once again express our deepest sympathies to all involved. | "We want to once again express our deepest sympathies to all involved. |
| "This has been an emotional and challenging time for everyone. | "This has been an emotional and challenging time for everyone. |
| "The mirror appeared secure, but as the evidence at the inquest has established, it had been incorrectly and unsafely installed by the subcontractor when the store was refurbished. | "The mirror appeared secure, but as the evidence at the inquest has established, it had been incorrectly and unsafely installed by the subcontractor when the store was refurbished. |
| "As a business, we continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that an accident like this can never happen again." | "As a business, we continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that an accident like this can never happen again." |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
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