A two-year-old boy tragically lost his life when an unsecured marble fireplace and television fell on him whilst he danced to a children’s YouTube show in his living room.
Carter Walsh was watching Cocomelon when the heavy fireplace, which was not secured to the wall, toppled forward along with a flat-screen TV weighing up to 30 kilos.
The incident occurred at the family’s home in Fisher Close, Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, whilst his mother was at work.
An inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court on Friday recorded a verdict of accident.
Detective Inspector Stuart Woodhead from Greater Manchester Police suggested Carter, described as a happy, healthy and curious toddler, might have approached the fireplace and potentially grabbed it, causing it to fall.
The accident occurred while workmen were present at the property carrying out work on the central heating system.
Carter was in the living room with the door closed, accompanied by a family member.
When the fireplace and television fell, the workmen immediately rushed to help, lifting the heavy items off the child.
Despite their swift response, Carter had already sustained a severe head injury.
He was rushed to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, where he was pronounced dead.
The toddler had previously shown interest in the fireplace and had been told to stay away from it, the inquest heard.
Police investigations could not definitively establish exactly what had happened in the moments leading to the tragic accident.
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In a heartbreaking revelation, Carter’s grandmother, Helen Mayhew, told the inquest that she and her husband had visited the house just one day before the accident.
They had come to assess what tools would be needed to secure both the fireplace and television to the wall.
“Did Carter stand on it, did Carter pull on it? We do not know,” Ms Mayhew said at the inquest. “He was just a happy toddler.”
Detective Inspector Woodhead emphasised there was no criminality involved in the incident.
“He did not suffer. He did not know what was going on. It was an instantaneous event,” the detective inspector explained. “He was allowed to be himself and dance away in front of the television.”
“He was a happy, well looked after child. This is a tragic accident. He was well supported and loved.”
Dr Jamie Robinson, a pathologist, confirmed the cause of death as ‘head injury’ following a post-mortem examination.
The pathologist stated Carter would have been unconscious immediately and would not have experienced any suffering.
Coroner Peter Sigee concluded the incident as accidental and expressed his sympathies to the bereaved family regarding the ‘tragic circumstances’.
In a moving tribute, Carter’s mother Samantha Walsh remembered her son as her ‘best friend’.
“He was well-loved, not just by his family but by anybody that met him,” she said.
“He broke the hearts of everybody he met… He was the apple of our eyes.”
