Boy, 5, died after big 11-stone mirror toppled on him as he checked out his personal reflection in division retailer

A little boy suffered catastrophic head injuries after a huge mirror fell on him at a high-end department store in a ‘preventable’ incident, an inquest heard today.

Freddie Farrow was in the lingerie department of Fenwick in Colchester, Essex, with his mother when he touched the 11-stone mirror before it toppled from the wall.

Distressing CCTV – which was not shown to jurors at the sombre hearing – showed staff running over to help and paramedics providing CPR as the five-year-old lay stricken on the floor.

The superhero-mad boy was airlifted to hospital where doctors fought to save him for nearly a week before he was removed from life support and passed away in his mother’s arms.

At the opening of the inquest today, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Pannell read from a police report which revealed wooden supports between the mirror and the wall-mounting brackets had given way.

Describing how officers arrived at the store and found Freddie surrounded by people trying to help him, with the 8ft 6in tall mirror nearby, he said: ‘Glass was broken and there was a considerable amount of blood on the floor.

‘A wall bracket was still attached to the to the rear of the mirror. There was a metal bracket on the wall and four pieces of wood were stuck together between the bracket on the wall and the mirror.

‘It was my view that this part had broken, had failed in its purpose, leaving the mirror effectively free-standing.’

Freddie Farrow, five, died after he appeared to touch a large mirror in a department store while looking at his own reflection and it fell on him, an inquest heard

He entered the Fenwick Department store in Colchester with his mother Natasha Ingham (pictured) and her friend Rebecca Parker when the 11-stone mirror toppled on him

The store’s CCTV showed how Freddie had entered the lingerie department with his mother, Natasha Ingham, and her friend Rebecca Parker.

The police report stated: ‘Freddie approaches the mirror. He appears to touch the mirror, looking at his own reflection.

‘The mirror appears to shimmer before falling forward. It hits the back of his head. Very little force is used by Freddie and it is my opinion that the mirror must have been at its balance point. Staff and security run to the aid of Freddie.’

DCI Pannell, who said Essex Police had since runs tests with a similar mirror, added Freddie had not appeared to ‘exert any real force in touching the mirror’.

He said: ‘This is a very sad incident where a young boy has lost his life in preventable circumstances.’

Police handed the matter over to Colchester City Council and the Health and Safety Executive, who ran a joint investigation. 

Freddie was airlifted to Colchester Hospital and then again to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he was resuscitated after going into cardiac arrest on several occasions.

Doctors explained to his parents that he had suffered a severe head injury and skull fractures and his condition was worsening because of pressure on the brain.

By August 2, Freddie’s pupils had become fixed and dilated and doctors concluded he had suffered ‘devastating, irreversible and non-survivable neurological injury’. His parents agreed for him to be taking off the ventilation that was helping him to live.

A nurse said in her report: ‘Freddie was placed in mum’s arms on the sofa for cuddles. Sister Sophie and dad were in attendance.

‘When the tube was removed, Freddie died peacefully in mum’s arms.’

The young boy died after suffering a severe head injury and skull fractures (pictured: The funeral of Freddie Farrow in Colchester in 2021)

.Pictured: A police officer inside Fenwicks store in Colchester on July 27, 2021

Ms Ingham read out a statement at the start of the five-day hearing in which she described her son, who had an older brother and sister, as a ‘loving and caring boy with a lot of love to give’ and who enjoyed exercise, football and Avengers heroes including Spiderman and the Hulk.

‘There’s not a day goes by when I won’t be thinking of him,’ she said.

Freddie’s father, Andrew, was not at the hearing at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court but his statement was read out by an official.

He wrote: ‘Initially, I had to block out all thoughts of Fred. Coping with the loss of Fred is a horrible, exhausting, daily event.’

The jury inquest was told an attachment, made from four pieces of wood that had been glued together, had failed but not why. Further detail will be heard during the hearing. 

Freddie lived in Colchester where he was a pupil at Gosbecks Primary School.

Headteacher Polly Bradford said at the time of his death: ‘Freddie was a little star. His sensitive and caring nature shone through with his friends, who he always looked out for and cared for.

‘He was a sweet-natured boy who was always polite and well-mannered.’

The inquest continues.