Primark worker, 18, died after putting a cone on a statue

Tom Callaway, 18, (undated pic) climbed the bronze sculpture of General Redvers Buller in Exeter, Devon, at around midnight during a night out with friends on June 10

A teenager died after falling 15ft from the top of a statue when he was putting a traffic cone on its head, an inquest heard today.

Tom Callaway, 18, climbed the bronze sculpture of General Redvers Buller in Exeter, Devon, at around midnight during a night out with friends on June 10.

Mr Callaway – described as a ‘joker’ – slipped and landed on his head before dying a day later.

The 1905 statue, which shows General Buller on horseback, is regularly targeted by pranksters and the local council is called several times a year to remove cones.

Speaking after a verdict of accidental death, Mr Callaway’s mother Sarah said she wanted her son’s death to be a lesson to other youngsters to avoid foolish acts

Mr Callaway was with a group of friends who had stopped off at the statue while walking from a pub towards a nightclub on the night of June 10.

Witnesses said he carried the cone onto the top of the statue before trying to move it around when he slipped and fell – hitting his head on the ground below.

Paramedics arrived and started to give Mr Callaway CPR but he was taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he died on Sunday, June 11.

His cause of death was given as traumatic brain injury.

Friend Ozlo Gilbert was with Mr Callaway, a Primark worker, when he started to climb the statue.

The 1905 statue, (pic at an unknown date) which shows General Buller on horseback, is regularly targeted by pranksters and the council is called several times a year to remove cones

The 1905 statue, (pic at an unknown date) which shows General Buller on horseback, is regularly targeted by pranksters and the council is called several times a year to remove cones

He said in a statement: ‘Other people had climbed the statue in the past so I started to climb the base. I only got a little way up and thought better of it.

‘Tom made his way round and started to climb up holding a traffic cone. He climbed up in just a few seconds and sat on the horse. He then took another cone from the head and put it on the ear.

‘We were all laughing and joking. I did not think anything bad would happen.

‘The next thing I know someone says he has fallen. I looked around to see Tom lying on his back at the base of the statue and he was not moving.’

The inquest in Exeter, Devon heard toxicology reports showed Tom had 100 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood and friends described him as ‘tipsy’.

Cameron Baxter said: ‘He liked his drink and although I never witnessed stupidity he was a joker by nature.

‘On the evening of 10 June he had already had two to three pints by the time I arrived at the pub. He drank cider and was in high spirits. Tipsy, but not totally smashed.

‘There was a traffic cone which Tom honed in on and he said let’s get this cone on the statue. He ran towards the cone and no-one made any effort to stop him.

The inquest in Exeter, Devon heard toxicology reports showed Tom had 100 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood and friends described him as 'tipsy'. Pic: The statue with floral tributes

The inquest in Exeter, Devon heard toxicology reports showed Tom had 100 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood and friends described him as ‘tipsy’. Pic: The statue with floral tributes

‘After he fell I approached the other side I heard our friends say, almost casually, Tom’s fallen. I saw him lying in front of the statue and initially thought it was a joke.

‘I lost sight of him for 30 seconds but have no reason to believe it was anything more than an accident.’

Another friend drinking with Mr Callaway, Elijah Gayton, said: ‘I saw him mid-air fall to the floor and hit his head on the concrete steps.

‘I rushed over to check him. It was Tom’s own idea to go up the statue and no-one encouraged him to do it.’

Gilbert Peck was standing on the other side of the road at a bus stop and witnessed the fall.

He said: ‘He was sat on top of the horse. I saw him slip and lose his grip and saw him fall.’

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Coroner John Tomalin said: ‘Tom had just started a new job, was making friends and seemed to be very happy and healthy young man.

‘He was enjoying life and saw it as a great adventure.

‘He died as a result of a tragic accident. I believe alcohol played a factor. Something clearly has gone horribly wrong and I hope it acts as a sobering example to others to avoid such foolish acts.’

Exeter City Council has said it is called to remove cones from the statue ‘about four times a year’.

After the inquest, Mr Callaway's mother fought back the tears to issue a warning to others about the dangers of climbing the statue, which is pictured decorated with flowers

After the inquest, Mr Callaway’s mother fought back the tears to issue a warning to others about the dangers of climbing the statue, which is pictured decorated with flowers

After the inquest, Mr Callaway’s mother fought back the tears to issue a warning to others about the dangers of climbing the statue.

She said: ‘I want to issue a warning to any young person who thinking about climbing this statue to think about what happened to Tom. It is not worth the risk.

‘Tom loved climbing – even when he was a kid. He was good at it but was just very unlucky that night.

‘He was a happy, go lucky boy who did not have a care in the world. I wished I could have lived like that but it is hard to carry on without him.’

General Buller was Commander-in-Chief of British forces in South Africa during the second Boer War.

The statue is situated between Exeter and the general’s former home in Crediton. 



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