INVESTIGATORS looking into the death of a five-year-old who died after a mirror fell on him say they hope to be able to provide answers "as soon as possible."
“Lovely and cheeky” Freddie Farrow suffered a serious head injury while inside Fenwick, in Colchester High Street, on July 27 2021.
The Gosbecks Primary School pupil was treated by shop staff, fire crews and police officers before paramedics arrived and he was airlifted to hospital.
The “loving, caring and fun” youngster died six days later on August 2.
Since then, Colchester Council and the Health and Safety Executive have jointly been conducting an investigation into Freddie’s death, and the Gazette understands that until that is concluded, a full inquest is unlikely to be heard by the coroner.
Colchester Council has said there is no fixed end date for their inquiry.
A spokesman for the authority said collecting evidence such as witness statements and other contributing factors has been time consuming.
He said: “We understand the deep concern surrounding the ongoing investigation into the tragic incident at Fenwick – our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this loss.
“This investigation is being conducted jointly by Colchester Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) due to the complex nature of the incident.
“Thoroughly examining all evidence, witness statements, and potential contributing factors takes time, but it is crucial to ensure a complete and accurate understanding of what happened.”
The spokesman added the council is trying to speed up their inquiry.
He continued: “We are working diligently alongside the HSE to expedite the investigation while maintaining its integrity.
"While we cannot provide a specific timeline at this stage, we are committed to providing answers as soon as possible.
"Updates will be issued as they become available.”
In the aftermath of Freddie’s death, a fundraiser was launched in his honour with more than £10,000 being raised by members of the public.
An inquest was opened in 2021 shortly after Freddie’s death, with the coroner providing a provisional cause of death as traumatic brain injury.
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