Dead boy’s sister may have tried to prevent fatal tower block fall

Liam Shackleton accidentally fell from the window of his grandfather’s flat in Leeds after climbing on to a chest of drawers.

His traumatised 10-year-old sister grabbed on to Liam as he climbed and may have been trying to prevent him from falling, the inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard.

The boy fell from a bedroom window which did not have a child lock fitted, the inquest was told.

The standard safety feature is believed to have been removed.

Coroner David Hinchliff said he would write to the landlord of the property in Lindsay Mount, in the Burmantofts area, and recommend they look into fitting all windows with static inhibitors to prevent them opening too wide.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Hinchliff said he would also recommend regular inspections of the properties to ensure safety features are in place and working.

The inquest heard that Liam was living in his grandfather’s one-bedroom flat with his parents, Martin and Tanya Shackleton, and his four siblings, while they waited to be rehoused.

On the day of his death, on May 31 last year, the family moved furniture from the living room into the bedroom while carpet tiles were replaced. A chest of drawers from the bedroom had been put under the window to make room for extra furniture.

After the carpet was laid, the adults began moving the furniture back, leaving Liam and his sister in the bedroom.

A short time later, Liam’s sister came into the living room to tell her mother Liam had fallen.