Nine-year-old boy crushed to death by school locker

‘A sparkle in our school’

A BOY of nine was crushed to death in a freak accident when a locker fell on him as he waited with family at an after-school swimming club.

Leo Latifi is believed to have suffered severe head injuries after being pinned under the locker.

He was rushed to hospital where he died later despite efforts to save him. The accident happened at Great Baddow High School in Chelmsford, Essex, on Thursday evening.

An Essex Police spokesman said: ‘We were called by the ambulance service at about 6.15pm. The nineyear-old boy was believed to have fallen from a locker and become trapped underneath it.’

Leo was not a pupil at the school and it was unclear last night whether he had taken part in a swimming lesson. The school was closed yesterday except for students sitting exams.

Head Carrie Lynch said: ‘ The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Great Baddow High School are with the family and friends of the child who died yesterday evening.’

Flowers were laid outside Leo’s school nearby, St Michael’s Church of England Junior, which cancelled a special achievers’ assembly.

Head Maria Rumsey described Leo as ‘a sparkle in our school’ who would be ‘greatly missed by all’.

Teachers stood outside the premises yesterday to break the sad news to pupils and parents as they arrived.

A single police car was stationed in the car park. One member of staff said: ‘ There are children inside Leo Latifi: Became trapped today just learning about it. They’re grieving right now.’

Leo’s mother, Natalie, 30, was too upset to comment yesterday when approached at the family’s flat in the town. Her Facebook page describes her work as ‘full-time mummy’.

Her husband Eduart, 37, also declined to discuss what had happened. The couple are understood to have another son, who is several years younger than Leo.

A resident near Great Baddow High said yesterday: ‘I can’t believe it. Someone came out of the school and said there had been an accident at an after-school swimming club.

‘I saw all the ambulances and helicopter. It was just horrible.’

Ace swimming school, which is owned by Amanda Green and Cassie Gutteridge, had been holding classes at the school when Leo was hurt. Both declined to comment.

The police spokesman said: ‘The child was not a pupil at the school and had been there with family members at an after- school club. We are liaising the Health and Safety Executive.’

The HSE confirmed it was aware of the incident and was ‘jointly investigating’ with Essex Police.