Head Of Training, The Healthy Work Company

February 15, 2017

Get the SHP newsletter

Daily health and safety news, job alerts and resources

Updated: Ten-year-old dies after furniture falls on him in Topshop

Police have confirmed that a 10-year-old boy has died after a piece of furniture fell on him in a Topshop store, at the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading, at around 16.15 GMT yesterday (13 February).

TopshopThe boy, who now been named as Kaden Reddick, suffered severe head injuries and later died in the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, approximately an hour after the accident.

Unconfirmed reports suggested he had pulled a barrier down and it crashed on his head inside the store.

When SHP contacted the HSE, a spokesperson said that this incident would fall under the local authority, Reading Borough Council.

In a statement Topshop said: “The Topshop board together with thousands of staff are deeply saddened by the horrific accident that occurred in our Reading store yesterday afternoon.

“All our thoughts are very much with the family at this difficult time.

“We are thoroughly investigating all the events surrounding this extremely sad situation.”


Similar articles:

Hugo Boss fined £1.2m for health and safety breaches

Comment: Hugo Boss fined for fatal negligence


A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police issued a statement that read: “We were called by the South Central Ambulance Service at around 4.15pm this afternoon to a retail store at the Oracle shopping centre, Reading.

“On attendance they found that a 10-year-old boy had suffered serious head injuries after an incident involving store furniture.

“The boy was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where sadly he was pronounced dead. His next of kin have been informed.

“At this time the death is being treated as unexplained but non-suspicious and police are making further inquiries.”

Det Supt Paul Hayles said: “We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this death, a scene watch is in place at the Topshop store and is likely to be in place for some time.Detectives are now working with the local authority and the store owners to gather all of the information on how this incident happened.”

Reading Borough Council said its health and safety officers have been working with police on the investigation.

A spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.

“As the enforcing authority for health and safety within retail premises, we will be working closely with the police, who are at present leading on the investigation.

“We are contacting all parties involved in order to carry out our investigation into this tragic incident.”

Since the incident Topshop announced that it has recalled all till barrier units. A Topshop spokesman said: “Further to the recent incident in Reading, as a safety precaution we have decided to remove all the till barrier units in question from our stores across the country with immediate effect.”

 

 

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments