Inquest Reveals Unsafe Mirror Installation Led to 5-Year-Old's Death in 2021

Freddie Farrow suffered fatal injuries after an improperly secured mirror fell on him in a Colchester department store, an inquest has found.

Freddie Farrow, aged five, died in August 2021 after an 8-foot-tall mirror fell on him at Fenwick department store in Colchester, Essex.
The inquest revealed the mirror was inadequately secured, with a broken wooden bracket leaving it freestanding and unstable.
CCTV footage showed Freddie lightly touching the mirror while looking at his reflection before it toppled, causing a catastrophic brain injury.
The mirror, installed during a 2015-16 refurbishment, had a five-year manufacturer's guarantee but was subject to wear and tear without preventive maintenance.
Freddie's parents described him as a bright and cheerful child, with his mother calling him a 'ray of sunshine.'