(EPICSTORIAN) – A tragic accident at Fenwick department store in Colchester has claimed the life of five-year-old Freddie Farrow.

An inquest into his death revealed that an 11-stone mirror, which was improperly secured, toppled onto him while he was inside the store with his mother.

Footage After The Mirror Collapse

Security footage, reviewed during the inquest but not shown publicly, captured the horrifying moment. The boy had approached the mirror, lightly touched its surface, and moments later, it fell forward, striking him on the back of the head.

Staff and security rushed to his aid, and paramedics performed CPR before he was airlifted to the hospital.

Investigation Points to Structural Failure

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Pannell provided details from the police report, confirming that wooden supports between the mirror and its wall-mounted brackets had given way.

“Glass was shattered, and there was a significant amount of blood on the floor. The mirror’s bracket remained attached, but the wooden support had failed, leaving the mirror free-standing,” he stated.

Police later conducted tests with a similar mirror, confirming that Freddie had not applied significant force. “This was a preventable tragedy,” Pannell emphasized.

The case was handed over to Colchester City Council and the Health and Safety Executive for further investigation.

Medical Efforts and Heartbreaking Loss

Freddie was initially taken to Colchester Hospital before being transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Despite extensive medical intervention, his condition deteriorated due to severe skull fractures and brain swelling.

Doctors informed his parents that he had suffered irreversible brain damage. On August 2, after multiple cardiac arrests and no signs of recovery, his family made the painful decision to remove him from life support.

A nurse who attended to him in his final moments recalled, “Freddie was placed in his mother’s arms for his last moments, surrounded by his sister and father.”

Family’s Devastation and Tribute

Freddie’s mother, Natasha Ingham, spoke at the inquest, describing him as “a loving and caring boy with so much love to give.” She recalled his passion for football and superheroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk.

His father, Andrew Farrow, whose statement was read in court, expressed the deep emotional toll of his loss. “Coping with this is an exhausting, daily struggle,” he wrote.

Freddie was a student at Gosbecks Primary School, where Headteacher Polly Bradford remembered him as “a kind-hearted boy who always looked out for his friends.”

Store Installation and Safety Failures

Health and safety officer Alison Chapman testified that the mirror was designed to lean against the wall, secured only at the top. It had been installed in 2015–2016 as part of a store refurbishment, carried out by a German subcontractor.

“There was no record of maintenance or safety checks on the mirrors,” Chapman revealed.

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The inquest, expected to continue throughout the week, will determine the extent of responsibility and potential legal action against those involved.