Schoolboy falls 40ft to his death playing game of tag

SCHOOLBOY plunged 40ft to his death through the roof of a derelict building while playing a game of tag with friends, an inquest heard.

Myles Johnstone, 14, suffered fatal head and abdominal injuries in the fall at the fenced- off site which had been empty for 17 months.

An inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard how Myles, from Leeds, and other boys had clambered on to the roof to avoid being caught.

But the Leeds West Academy pupil fell through a fragile part of the roof at the disused industrial site in the Kirkstall area of his home city.

West Yorkshire Police was called to the unit shortly after 8.30pm on July 6 last year.

Officers, paramedics and an air ambulance team battled to save the critically injured teen but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Constable Lee Swift said: “Some of the boys decided to go on the roof to avoid being caught as part of the game.”

Myles was one of around 10 boys aged between nine and 16 who were playing the game when the tragedy happened. 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.

“A young lad intent on larking about was oblivious to the risk.”

The inquest was told the industrial units have now been demolished. Myles Johnstone was 14