A 14-year-old boy died after falling 40ft to his death through the roof of a derelict building while playing a game of tag with friends.
Myles Johnstone suffered fatal head and abdominal injuries after falling through the roof of a building on an abandoned industrial estate.
An inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard the teenager from Bramley, West Yorkshire, had climbed up to the roof to avoid being caught as part of the game.
Myles Johnstone suffered fatal head and abdominal injuries after falling through the roof of a building on an abandoned industrial estate
The youngster had climbed up to the roof to avoid being caught as part of the game of tag
Myles was one of around ten boys aged between nine and 16 who gained access to the site despite security gates and high fencing
Tag – also known as tig – is a playground game that involves two or more players chasing other players in an attempt to ‘tig’ or touch them, usually with their hands.
Myles, a pupil at the Leeds West Academy, fell through a fragile part of the roof at the disused industrial site in Kirkstall, West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police were called to the premises around 8.30pm on July 6 last year.
Officers, paramedics and an air ambulance team battled to save Myles but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Myles was one of around ten boys aged between nine and 16 who gained access to the site despite security gates and high fencing.
Richard Murray, director of Landmark Estates which owns the site, said he had visited on nine occasions between July 2016 and July 2017 to check it was secure and was not aware that children had been gaining access.
The industrial units have now been demolished to make way for housing.
After the inquest hearing Mylo’s uncle Duncan Johnstone said: ‘The family would urge parents to be aware of derelict properties in the areas where they live and ensure that children are warned about the dangers.
‘We don’t want anyone else to go through this heartbreak.’
Myles’ uncle said: ‘We don’t want anyone else to go through this heartbreak’
Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin said: ‘Mylo clearly didn’t intend to harm himself, he was just having fun.
‘This is an immensely sad case.
‘A young lad intent on larking about was oblivious to the risk. We have the tragedy that Mylo fell through a fragile part of the roof and sustained fatal injuries.’
Myles’ death followed two similar incidents in the Leeds area last year involving boys who were seriously injured in falls at disused buildings.
A 12-year-old was seriously injured at a disused factory in Armley in June and a 13-year-old was seriously injured at a derelict building in Garforth in May.
A mother has also released horrifying pictures of her son’s injuries after he fell 40ft through a roof while exploring a derelict building in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
Charlotte Frain’s son Mackenzie Cooper, 13, broke his jaw in two places, broke a bone in his face and wrist, suffered a fracture above his knee and a punctured right lung, when he smashed onto a concrete floor.
Mackenzie Cooper, 13, broke his jaw in two places, broke a bone in his face and wrist, suffered a fracture above his knee and a punctured right lung, when he smashed onto a concrete floor
Charlotte Frain released horrifying pictures of her son’s injuries after he fell 40ft through a roof while exploring a derelict building in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
The youngster has had a metal plate put into his cheek and underwent a second operation on his wrist on Saturday. He awaits further treatment.
In her post, Mrs Frain said: ‘He’s a very, very lucky boy. He could have so easily died or had some sort of spinal injury. I could be planning my son’s funeral this week.
‘It’s just so dangerous. These buildings are just not safe and there are warning signs there for a reason.
‘Mackenzie had been told not to do this sort of thing but he ignored those warnings.
‘It’s not nice having these photos of Facebook but they are graphic and hopefully they will stop kids from messing about and show people the dangers of doing this sort of thing.
‘If it stops one person doing this sort of thing then it’s worth it. No parent should have to get that call.
‘It’s the sort of phone call no parent should ever, ever have to receive. I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire life.
‘The feeling is beyond words, just horrible, like someone has punched you in the stomach. I arrived there just not knowing what to expect. I didn’t know what state he was going to be in, I didn’t even know whether he was even alive.’