Brain damaged boy dies
The Age
Megan Levy
June 29,2015
Police seal off the QBV's northern stairwell following a 13-year-old boy's fatal fall. Photo: Rachel Olding
The tragic moment a 13-year-old boy plunged several stories to his death inside the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney was captured on security cameras, police say.
Officers have reviewed the distressing footage and will provide it to the coroner following the boy's death on Sunday afternoon in what police have described as a "heart-breaking accident".
The boy was visiting the historic shopping centre in Sydney's CBD with his family and was believed to be playing on a railing, possibly attempting to slide down it, when he lost his balance and tumbled over the edge about 3pm.
The 13-year-old boy fell over a railing about 3pm on Sunday. Photo: Supplied
The accident occurred in the shopping centre's northern stairwell, near the Market Street end of the building. They boy landed on the lower ground floor, near the lift, after falling up to 30 metres from an upper level at the shopping centre.
Distraught onlookers provided first aid to the boy, who suffered critical head and chest injuries and was bleeding heavily when paramedics arrived.
Police escorted the boy's ambulance to the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, however he could not be saved. He died about 5.30pm.
"Obviously there was no crime committed here," a NSW Police spokeswoman said, adding that it appeared to be a "heart-breaking accident".
The boy's family was distraught and was being offered counselling, she said.
The building was packed with shoppers at the start of the school holidays, and hundreds of people were in the shopping centre at the time.
Witnesses who provided first aid to the boy, and emergency service workers who arrived at the scene, will be offered counselling, the police spokeswoman said.
She said there were two types of railings to try to prevent people from climbing over the edge where the boy fell.
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) released a statement on Sunday afternoon following the fatal accident.
"The QVB extends sincere condolences to the victim's family," the statement said.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident and will continue to work with the NSW Police Force on the matter."
Police are providing a report for the coroner.
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