'Cheeky and funny' boy, five, killed when mirror fell on him while shopping with mum

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A five-year-old boy died when a large mirror fell on him in a department store in Essex, an inquest has heard today. Freddie Farrow appeared to touch the mirror while looking at his own reflection before it fell on top of him, a hearing in Chelmsford was told.

The mirror, which was more than 2.5 meters tall and about 60cm wide, weighed between 60kg and 80kg. The tragic incident happened on July 27 in 2021 at the Fenwick store in Colchester.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Michael Pannell told the inquest that police were called to the scene by the ambulance service at 11.32am.

The officer, who went through a report prepared by his colleague, Detective Inspector Fred Tomkins, who was unable to attend the hearing, said: “The initial report was that a large mirror had fallen on a child.” The youngster, who was “unconscious”, was initially taken to Colchester Hospital and then transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, the officer said.