Chelmsford school locker death: Boy, 9, killed in fall

Leo Latifi's face "lit up the classroom", his head teacher has said

A nine-year-old boy has died after becoming trapped underneath a locker at a school in Essex.

It happened at an after-school swimming club at Great Baddow High School in Chelmsford on Thursday evening.

Leo Latifi, who was not a pupil at the school, was taken to hospital where he later died.

The head teacher of St Michael's Primary School paid tribute to her Year 4 pupil, who she said was a "sparkle in our school".

Essex Police said Leo was with family members when he fell from a locker and got trapped.

'Avid scientist'

Maria Rumsey, head teacher at St Michael's, said staff, parents, governors and pupils were "shocked and immensely saddened" by Leo's death.

She said: "He will be greatly missed by all. We wish to extend our thoughts and condolences to all of Leo's family and friends at this saddest of times.

"Leo was a sparkle in our school. His face lit up the classroom and his mischievous blue eyes made us all smile.

"He was an avid scientist, who only on Wednesday was in his element hunting for bugs on the school field.

"Leo was always keen to share his model-building and wowed the class when he brought in the finished masterpieces. He had a wide circle of friends in the year group, all of whom will miss him greatly."

She added the school would be supporting staff and pupils as they came to terms with the loss.

Leo Latifi was fatally injured at Great Baddow High School's swimming pool

Great Baddow High School was closed on Friday other than for pupils sitting GCSE and A-Level exams.

Head teacher Carrie Lynch said: "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Great Baddow High School are with the family and friends of the child who died yesterday evening, his school and swimming club."

The academy, which specialises in sport and science, has about 1,400 pupils and was rated "good" at its last Ofsted inspection

The Health and Safety Executive said it was investigating alongside Essex Police and had been on site.

Floral tributes were left at St Michael's Primary School

Essex Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the death