A little boy who died after being crushed under a heavy mirror who fell on him in a chic department store was the victim of an accident, a jury of investigation ruled today.
Freddie Farrow, five, suffered catastrophic brain injuries when he weighed the 8ft 6in mirror, which weighed around 11 stone, at Fenwick in Colchester, Essex.
Witnesses said he had been gone to look at his mirror image and at that time only stood a few meters from his mother.
Freddie was rushed to the hospital where he died days later in the arms of his mother Amanda and surrounded by family after his livelihood was eliminated.
An inspection for health care and safety found that the tailor -made mirrors, which were designed for Fenwick and installed by contactors, should have rested on the floor.
But many were fractions of an inch of the floor suspended – in some cases hidden by the pile of the carpet – which meant that support boxes on the back of them wore more weight than they were designed.
Freddie's family was in tears when they heard the decision, the foreman said, “The incident level was not securely attached and was suspended with brackets that were not loading.”
Wanting to the boy's mother, Natasha Ingham, an aunt and sister, she added: “I just want to pass on on behalf of the jury, our sincere condolences.”
Freddie Farrow, five, died after being crushed by a large mirror in the Fenwick department store in Colchester in 2021
He entered the Fenwick department store in Colchester with his mother Natasha Ingham (photo) and her friend Rebecca Parker when the mirror of 11 stones was overthrown on him
An investigation has discovered that the mirror was not placed on the floor, as it should have been, and instead was hung off the ground in centimeters (the store in Colchester, depicted)
Coroner Lincoln Brookes, who asked everyone to be a few moments in memory of Freddie before firing the jury, added: “In the beginning I couldn't imagine how difficult this week would be. It must have been a huge burden in different ways. It must have reopened the wounds that you thought you had gotten about it …
'I hope we have answered some of the questions you had answered in the beginning. It will never answer all questions, but I hope it has made a little more understanding of some problems possible. '
Marvel Superheroes -Fan Freddie, who had an older brother and sister, was in the store with his mother and one of her friends on July 27, 2021, when they entered the lingerie section and he approached the mirror.
After it crashed on him, the staff and security gave resuscitation before paramedics took over. He was flown to a local hospital and later taken to the hospital of Addenbrooke in Cambridge.
Doctors fought to save him, but the brain damage he had sustained did not allow him to breathe without help and ventilation was removed on August 6.
On the first day of the five-day hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Pannell said: 'very little strength was used by Freddie and it is my opinion that the mirror must have been on its balance sheet.
“This is a very sad incident in which a young boy has lost his life in avoidable circumstances.”
Health and Safety Executive Expert David King told the hearing that the tragedy would not have been possible if the mirror was well protected and said: 'A five -year -old should not be able to pull a mirror down, as by up Climb it. But he didn't. '
The HSE Science Division investigated the 'Incident Mirror', which was intended to sit on the ground and lean against a column in a light angle that left him 'virtually upright', and concluded that it was not confirmed correctly.
Broets on the wall were not in line with two MDF confirmation boxes at the back of the mirror one at the top and a slightly larger at the bottom to create a three-degree angle.
PVA wood glue was also used in the construction of the boxes, which would have been enough to keep them together, but not to wear a load, the jury was told.
A photo of Freddie published by the Essex police after the conclusion of the investigation into his death after the accident at Fenwick
Freddie Farrow's mother Natasha Ingram depicted the investigation behind the investigation after he had died in an accident
Police on site within Fenwick on July 27, 2021 after the mirror collapsed on Freddie while looking at his own reflection
An Essex Police Forensic Investigation and a quick response ambulance at the other entrance to the store
Paramedics fought to save Freddie before he was flown to the hospital – but he was taken from a fan a week later (photo: paramedics on scene)
The mirror that killed schoolboy Freddie turned out to have placed too heavy a load on the upper bracket because the bottom bracket was not involved, said Mr. King.
'The goal [of the boxes] Not to hang the mirror, it is to control it in the pillar, “he added.
The mirrors, which were unique to Fenwick, were designed by Dula-works Dustmann and installed in August or September 2016 by CKM Kondring Montagen, both German companies.
Checks after Freddie van Colchester was killed, that two of the 14 mirrors in the store were effectively hung, instead of resting on the floor and two more 'partial rest' on the floor. Nine had a form of distortion on the upper mounting boxes.
Keith Morton KC, the lawyer who represents Fenwick, told the hearing that there were errors on the installation diagrams that were provided to installers who, if followed, had left the mirrors 3.5 inches above the floor, despite the fact that the positioning 'Safety Critical Was.
The positioning of the brackets on the mirror that fell on Freddie meant that it would have been about two -thirds of a centimeter of the floor, although this may have been hidden by the stack of the carpet, was claimed.
'All mass of the mirror was subject to the upper wall bracket. The involvement of the single bracket was dependent on the limited strength of the wood glue, “said Mr Morton.
He added: 'The design was short. The installation instructions may be inadequate. These mirrors should not have been transferred to Fenwick. '
In a explanation read to the investigation, Freddie's father, Andrew Farrow, described who works as a driver, how he initially had to block all his son of his son after his death. “
“Dealing with the loss of Fred is a terrible, tiring, daily event,” he said.
His mother said to the hearing: “Not a day will pass if I don't think about him.”
The Essex police said that the day of the accident “was one of the most devastating days that many officers in Colchester had in the police” (Freddie depicted in a family photo)
Freddie died after a serious head injury and skull fractures (shown: the young person in Colchester in 2021)
After the conclusion of the investigation, Essex Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Weaver said that July 27, 2021 'one of the most devastating days remained that many officers in Colchester had in the police'.
He continued: 'Essex Police is a force that the family appreciates and everything that goes with it. The death of Freddie is a tragedy, and it is one that we will never forget.
'In the days, weeks and months after Freddie's death, the community of Colchester showed his love and unity. That is a community of which we are proud to make. '
And in a next statement Natasha said: 'Losing a child is something that no parent can ever happen to.
'As a family we think of Freddie every day, and we remember him as he was; As a loving, caring and nice little boy who had his entire life for him.
“His loss has left a gap that can never be filled.
'We try to live our lives as we know that Freddie would have wanted that we, with love, kindness and with joy. He will never leave us. '
