A two-year-old boy, Carter Walsh, tragically died after being crushed by a television and fireplace that fell on top of him while he was dancing in September. Carter, after being crushed, went into cardiac arrest and was quickly transported to a local hospital in England, but, sadly, he was pronounced dead shortly after. Carter's death was ruled an accident.
Videos by Wide Open Country
An inquest revealed that Carter's mother, Samantha, was not at home at the time of the accident and was instead looked after by an "appropriate family member," according to Manchester Evening News. Moreover, the inquest was unable to determine how the fireplace and flat-screen TV fell on top of Carter, but authorities did reveal that these items were unsecured. At the time of the accident, Carter was dancing to a Cocomelon video on YouTube.
That said, Carter's grandparents, commented on the unsecured items, with Helen Mayhew, Carter's grandmother, saying that she and her husband attempted to secure them. "They were resting against the wall but there were no fittings to attach it. The plan had been to secure it," Mayhew said. Like the inquest, Mayhew does not not exactly what happened that caused the accident. She just called her grandson a "happy toddler."
A Happy Toddler
Greater Manchester Police Det Insp Stuart Woodhead theorizes that Carter potentially grabbed the mantelpiece. This could have caused the accident, according to the BBC. "He was quite an inquisitive young man and had been dancing away in front of the television," he said.
Woodhead, however, called the accident an instantaneous event and that Carter did not suffer or know what was going on. "He was allowed to be himself and dance away in front of the television," Woodhead said. He then described Carter as a "very happy, well looked after child," calling the incident a "tragic accident."
Carter Walsh could not be saved by any medical intervention according to Dr. Jamie Robinson. Robinson shared this insight with Peter Sigee, Greater Manchester Area Coroner. Sigee, at the same time, offered his condolences to Carter's family. "I give my condolences and I am so sorry we have had to meet in such tragic circumstances," Sigee said.
