Boy, 2, died after TV and fireplace fell - inquest

A two-year-old boy died after a television and marble fireplace toppled over and struck him on the head, an inquest has heard.

Carter Walsh had been dancing to the children's programme Cocomelon shortly before the accident at his home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, on 18 September.

The TV, weighing between four and 4.7 stone (25 and 30kg), was resting on top of the fireplace, and neither had been fitted to the living room wall of the rented property in Fisher Close, Bolton Coroners' Court was told.

The toddler was knocked unconscious and went into cardiac arrest before being pronounced dead in hospital.

Det Insp Stuart Woodhead, of Greater Manchester Police, told the inquest: "I believe he had gone towards the fireplace and potentially grabbed the mantelpiece.

"He was quite an inquisitive young man and had been dancing away in front of the television.

"He didn't suffer, he didn't know what was going on.

"It was an instantaneous event."

He added: "Carter was a very happy, well looked after child. This is a tragic accident."

Concluding the death was an accident, Greater Manchester West area coroner Peter Sigee told his family: "I give my condolences and I am so sorry we have had to meet in such tragic circumstances."

Explaining his findings, Mr Sigee said: "Carter's death was caused by a head injury suffered in an accident within his home earlier that day when a TV and a fireplace, which the tenant of the property had installed but was not secured, toppled over and struck him."

A relative was babysitting Carter at the time of the accident while the youngster's mother was at work, the inquest heard.

The lounge door was closed as the landlord and workmen were busy elsewhere in the property, and after the incident they helped to lift the items off Carter.

Giving evidence on Friday, Carter's grandmother Helen Mayhew said the room was recently decorated and new carpets laid.

Asked if the TV and fireplace appeared to be securely in position, she told the inquest: "The day before the accident, me and my husband were looking at what we needed to secure it.

"They were resting against the wall but there were no fittings to attach it.

"The plan had been to secure it."

Ms Mayhew said the family did not know how the fireplace had suddenly toppled over.

She said: "That's one of the questions we had. Did Carter stand on it? Did Carter pull on it? We don't know.

"He was just a happy toddler."

Forensic pathologist Dr Jamie Robinson told the coroner that Carter had suffered a severe injury to the right side of his head which he said would have rendered him unconscious from the outset.

Dr Robinson added: "He would not have survived, regardless of any medical intervention."

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