Parents of Victorian boy killed by falling bookcase warn of dangers

The parents of a little boy who was killed by a falling bookcase have joined a campaign warning of the dangers unstable furniture pose to children. 

Blake Shaw was just three-years-old when he died inside his family’s Victorian home in August 2016 after the heavy piece of furniture came crashing down on top of him.

His devastated parents, Tim Shaw and Kirstie Rogers, said they had discovered their son’s lifeless body after hearing a loud bang. 

Young Blake Shaw died inside the family’s Victorian home in August 2016 after a bookcase fell on top of him

Blake’s devastated parents Tim Shaw and Kirstie Rogers (pictured) are fronting a new national awareness campaign warning about the dangers posed by unstable furniture 

‘We got the cabinet up to the top. He (Blake) was right in the bottom corner, just curled up. He was gone by then,’ Mr Shaw said. 

Almost two years on from their son’s death, Mr Shaw and Ms Rogers have shared their heartbreaking story for a campaign launched by the ACCC and Kidsafe.

Parents are being urged to check their home for dangerous and potentially deadly situations.

‘We strongly encourage parents and carers to check every room in their home for toppling hazards and anchor any tall or unstable furniture or large TVs,’ ACCC Acting Chair, Delia Rickard, said.

‘If you don’t have anchor kits, you can buy them cheaply at hardware stores or furniture retail outlets.’ 

Startling figures reveal that since 2001, 22 children aged under nine have died in Australia after furniture fell on top of them.   

Blake was just three-years-old when the freestanding bookcase toppled down on him 

Blake is one of 22 Australian children aged under nine who have died after furniture fell on top of them

And it is estimated 2,600 Australians a year – or 50 a week – are taken to hospital for treatment of injuries caused by falling furniture and televisions.   

‘Common injuries from TV and furniture tip over incidents result from significant blunt force trauma and include broken bones, brain injuries, crushed chest cavities and even death by asphyxiation,’ Warwick Teague, Director of the Trauma Service at the Royal Children’s Hospital, said.

Melanie Courtney, CEO of Kidsafe Victoria, said securing furniture only took a matter of minutes.   

‘It’s really important to take that extra few minutes when you’re assembling furniture to make sure you have secured it as per the manufacturer’s instructions,’ she said.   

Parents are being urged to check their home for unstable furniture and televisions and to secure all heavy objects 

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