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Conley Thompson's death: no suspicious circumstances, say police Conley Thompson's death: no suspicious circumstances, say police
(35 minutes later)
Police have said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a seven-year-old boy whose body was found in a construction site near Barnsley.Police have said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a seven-year-old boy whose body was found in a construction site near Barnsley.
Conley Thompson, who went missing after playing with friends in a South Yorkshire park on Sunday night, was found dead on the building site in Worsbrough on Monday morning.Conley Thompson, who went missing after playing with friends in a South Yorkshire park on Sunday night, was found dead on the building site in Worsbrough on Monday morning.
DCI Dave Stopford, the senior investigating officer from South Yorkshire police, said the results of a postmortem suggested that Conley had entered a vertical pipe at the site and was unable to get out.DCI Dave Stopford, the senior investigating officer from South Yorkshire police, said the results of a postmortem suggested that Conley had entered a vertical pipe at the site and was unable to get out.
Stopford said on Tuesday: “Conley’s weight caused him to fall further into the pipe and pushed his clothing up around his body restricting his breathing. There is no suggestion of any third party involvement.”Stopford said on Tuesday: “Conley’s weight caused him to fall further into the pipe and pushed his clothing up around his body restricting his breathing. There is no suggestion of any third party involvement.”
On Monday, Conley’s grandmother, Deborah Fraser, said she was “shellshocked” by her grandson’s death. “As a person, he was a lovely little lad, boisterous, got into anything and everything, but his smile could light up a room,” she said. On Monday, Conley’s grandmother, Deborah Fraser, said she was “shellshocked” by her grandson’s death. “As a person, he was a lovely little lad, boisterous, got into anything and everything, but his smile could light up a room,” she said. “It’s not even sunk in now that he’s gone. I’m stood next to the place where he died and I’m thinking, ‘What the hell were you doing, Conley, in a place like this?’”
“It’s not even sunk in now that he’s gone. I’m stood next to the place where he died and I’m thinking, ‘What the hell were you doing, Conley, in a place like this?’” Fraser said that Conley was likely to have become trapped in the pipe because of the wet weather: “You know it was raining, he slipped and went straight down. I hate to think what his little mind was going through. His brain must have been all over the place trying to get out.”
Fraser added that Conley was likely to have become trapped in the pipe because of the wet weather: “You know it was raining, he slipped and went straight down. I hate to think what his little mind was going through. His brain must have been all over the place trying to get out.”
Stopford said officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the cause of Conley’s death. “Our job is to now piece together Conley’s movements on Sunday evening and establish how he accessed the construction site.” Police previously revealed that the site was checked by officers during the hours of darkness and found to be securely locked with a large perimeter fence.Stopford said officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the cause of Conley’s death. “Our job is to now piece together Conley’s movements on Sunday evening and establish how he accessed the construction site.” Police previously revealed that the site was checked by officers during the hours of darkness and found to be securely locked with a large perimeter fence.
Peter Taylor, manager of Security Guards UK, which has signs on the site, said the company was no longer employed there. “We were employed on the site until 16 July. During the time we did report, on numerous occasions, kids trying to get into the site and various trespassers,” he said.Peter Taylor, manager of Security Guards UK, which has signs on the site, said the company was no longer employed there. “We were employed on the site until 16 July. During the time we did report, on numerous occasions, kids trying to get into the site and various trespassers,” he said.
“If a security guard was on site then he would have spotted it and would have prevented it from happening. We are very sorry for the family’s loss.” He described the site as high-risk, with building materials and diggers inside.“If a security guard was on site then he would have spotted it and would have prevented it from happening. We are very sorry for the family’s loss.” He described the site as high-risk, with building materials and diggers inside.
There have been claims on social media that children regularly play at the site where Conley was found. One Twitter user, called Brett, said he used to live near the area. He wrote: “It is a dangerous place to play, but kids do. I was knocked unconscious there.”There have been claims on social media that children regularly play at the site where Conley was found. One Twitter user, called Brett, said he used to live near the area. He wrote: “It is a dangerous place to play, but kids do. I was knocked unconscious there.”
Police said Conley left Locke Park, near Barnsley, at about 8pm on Sunday night and was supposed to return to his home at Underwood Avenue but never turned up. About 50 police officers and a helicopter were deployed in the search for him overnight. Police said Conley left Locke Park, near Barnsley, at about 8pm on Sunday night and was supposed to return to his home but never turned up. About 50 police officers and a helicopter were deployed in the search for him overnight.
Local residents laid flowers and teddy bears at the site of the incident. Wayne Bolton, who went with his four-year-old son to pay his respects, said: “We are not friends with the family, but it’s tragic what’s happened and it just makes you appreciate what you have. I can’t begin to imagine what that family are going through.”Local residents laid flowers and teddy bears at the site of the incident. Wayne Bolton, who went with his four-year-old son to pay his respects, said: “We are not friends with the family, but it’s tragic what’s happened and it just makes you appreciate what you have. I can’t begin to imagine what that family are going through.”
The Rev Trevor Keightley, vicar at St Thomas’s church in Worsbrough, said a book of condolence would be opened at the church.The Rev Trevor Keightley, vicar at St Thomas’s church in Worsbrough, said a book of condolence would be opened at the church.