Inquest to find how boy, 5, died in luxury store

Freddie Farrow had just finished year one at Gosbecks Primary School, in Colchester, prior to his death

An inquest into the death of a five-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a mirror in a luxury department store will be held in February.

Freddie Farrow died six days after sustaining a serious head injury in Fenwick, on Colchester High Street, on 27 July 2021.

The mirror had been held to a wall by brackets before it fell, a pre-inquest review at Essex Coroner's Court heard.

Senior coroner Lincoln Brookes said the death of Freddie, who was about to start Year 2, was "tragic and deeply upsetting".

The youngster, who attended Gosbecks Primary School in Colchester, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

He died from a traumatic brain injury on 2 August 2021, a previous hearing was told.

The mirror had been placed on the floor and attached to the wall by brackets at Fenwick before it fell, the pre-inquest review heard.

Mr Brookes said he would call a jury to determine "how the mirror came to fall on Freddie and caused his death" during the full inquest proceedings on 3 February.

"The sudden and traumatic death of Freddie touches anyone, frankly, who hears of it," he said.

"One can only begin to imagine the effect his passing has left on his family and loved ones. He was a little boy and was a very much-loved family member."

The hearing in Chelmsford was told the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was continuing to investigate Freddie's death.

Mr Brookes said he expected the inquest next year would be held across four days.