Devastated family attend funeral of six-year-old pellet gun shooting victim in Yorkshire

Inset: Stanley Metcalf, and Captain America at his funeral.Inset: Stanley Metcalf, and Captain America at his funeral.
Inset: Stanley Metcalf, and Captain America at his funeral.
Stormtroopers and superheroes have stood guard at the funeral of six-year-old Stanley Metcalf, who died from a pellet gun injury.

Stanley was found fatally injured at a property in Sproatley, East Yorkshire, on July 26 and died in hospital later the same day.

-> Heartbroken family's tribute to pellet gun shooting six year old ahead of funeralHis family and friends gathered at the Chanterlands Avenue Crematorium for his funeral on Wednesday.

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Football-mad Stanley's coffin was carried into the grounds by a horse-drawn hearse past four Star Wars stormtroopers, Iron Man and Captain America.

Captain America makes an appearance at Stanley Metcalf's funeralCaptain America makes an appearance at Stanley Metcalf's funeral
Captain America makes an appearance at Stanley Metcalf's funeral

The characters then led the cortege through the crematorium grounds to the service and stood guard as the coffin was carried into the chapel.

The service was to be followed by a fun day event in the city.

In a statement issued through Humberside Police ahead of the funeral, Stanley's family said: "We are absolutely devastated and completely heartbroken without Stanley and it still doesn't feel real we won't see his happy, smiling face again.

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"There are no real words to express how the loss of Stanley has affected us and we all miss him so much.

Stanley Metcalf's funeralStanley Metcalf's funeral
Stanley Metcalf's funeral

"He was so vibrant and full of energy, a typical six-year-old boy who just wanted to have fun and enjoy life, and he adored playing football."

It added: "The condolences and support we have received have been incredibly touching and we would like to thank everyone, friends, the general public and the media, for their kind words and sensitivity during what is such an emotional and devastating time for us.

"Stanley's funeral will be a day dedicated to him and for him, he is all that matters."

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-> Huddersfield hospital cordoned off by police due to major incidentThe statement concluded: "Stanley was a loving, caring and beautiful boy, and there is a huge gap in all our lives now that will just never be filled."

Stanley MetcalfStanley Metcalf
Stanley Metcalf

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: "An investigation is ongoing and various voluntary interviews have been conducted by officers to assist with inquiries.

"No arrests have been made."

Detectives have said he was visiting family when the incident happened.

An inquest into Stanley's death was opened and adjourned earlier this month.

Senior coroner Professor Paul Marks was told that a post-mortem examination revealed Stanley's cause of death to be an "airgun projectile wound to abdomen".

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