A 10-year-old boy has died after a piece of furniture fell on him in a branch of Topshop causing severe head injuries, say reports.
He was found lying on the floor in a branch in the Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, shortly after 4pm yesterday and taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Unconfirmed reports suggested he pulled down a barrier, which crashed on to his head, says the Daily Telegraph.
Police are treating the death as “unexplained but non-suspicious” and his family have been informed
A police spokesman said: “On attendance, officers found that a ten-year-old boy had suffered serious head injuries after an incident involving store furniture. The boy was taken to the Royal Berkshire hospital where sadly he was pronounced dead.”
The entrance to the shopping centre was cordoned off to allow paramedics to treat the boy in privacy before he was taken to hospital.
Officers interviewed witness on the scene for more than two hours, reports the Reading Chronicle.
Neighbours have been paying tribute to the unnamed schoolboy, who was said to be “enjoying the first day of the half-term break”, says the local paper.
“Absolutely shocking news. Thoughts go out to all family and friends at such a sad time,” wrote one. Another said: “Can’t even begin to imagine how his family are feeling R.I.P. darling boy. Xx.”
Topshop is yet to make an official statement.
