SnowDome prosecuted after boy's death

Louis Watkiss, 12, was injured at the SnowDome on 24 September 2021 and died at the scene

An indoor ski centre has been charged following the death of a 12-year-old boy.

Louis Watkiss died at the SnowDome in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 24 September 2021. He had been with friends at a tobogganing party when he was hurt in a collision.

A man was also injured during the incident which involved one of the snow centre's employees, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE.)

The HSE said it had charged SnowDome Limited with breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.

"After an initial joint investigation with Staffordshire Police, HSE can now confirm Snowdome Limited has been charged with breaching section 3 of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974," it said in a statement.

Louis's parents, Chris and Natalie Watkiss, from Sutton Coldfield previously spoke about how they received a call about the accident and initially believed it to be a minor injury.

But their son, a talented saxophonist, was pronounced dead in front of them at the centre, they said.

The couple have since called for a change in the law to make helmets compulsory during similar activities.

They had worked with Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell who had previously said he was hoping to raise the matter in the House of Commons.

The case is listed for a first hearing at Telford Magistrates Court on 9 October.