There are unexpected events in life that can leave us feeling powerless and overwhelmed, reminding us of life’s unpredictability.
This sentiment encapsulated the experience of English parents in Hanbury, Worcestershire when their young son, Leopold Mercer, tragically lost his life while playing on an iron gate.
He had just started school
Leopold had recently commenced his schooling just a few weeks before the devastating incident. His mother, Eva Frickel, a university professor, described Leopold as a cheerful and outgoing boy in an account to Daily Mail. She mentioned, “Leopold had only been at school for a few weeks and was a cheerful, outgoing boy. In the driveway, there is a row of pillars in a semicircle and a garden gate is attached to one pillar.”
After a soccer practice, Leopold and a friend were walking home and decided to play on the iron gate in the driveway.
Dr. Frickel detailed the tragic sequence of events saying, “The boys got out of the car and started playing. I had just parked the car on the grass when I heard the other child ‘Leo’ shouting and by the sound of it, I knew something was wrong.”
The impact and failed resuscitation
At 11:48 a.m., a concrete pillar tragically fell on Leopold’s head.
A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr. Bamber, the overseeing pathologist, revealed that Leopold succumbed to traumatic head and neck injuries.
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Recalling the tragic day, Eva Frickel mentioned, “I ran and saw him lying under the pillar. It was so heavy that I couldn’t move it.” She described witnessing Jason Mercer, Leopold’s father, rushing out to lift the pillar off his son and initiating resuscitation efforts while she sought help.
“It didn’t take long before I heard a helicopter and sirens, but from that moment everything is quite blurry,” she said during the hearing on December 1.
Despite 42 minutes of resuscitation attempts, Leopold did not survive and was pronounced dead.
Cause of death
Dr. Christopher Hamilton, a Midlands Air Ambulance doctor, observed, “Leopold was lying on the path next to a fallen stone pillar and a metal gate. Paramedics found Leo unresponsive upon arrival.”
The other child present sustained minor injuries, and after an investigation by West Mercia Police, no foul play was suspected. Coroner David Reid stated, “In their opinion, it appeared to be a tragic accident.”
Per reports from the DailyMail, Dr. Reid affirmed post-investigation that Leopold’s demise was due to an accident: “Leopold suffered a fatal injury to his head and neck when a stone gate pillar fell on him while he was playing. He died from the injuries he sustained on the spot. His death was due to an unnatural event of the collapse of a stone pillar.”
This heartbreaking and unforeseen loss will forever impact those who knew young Leo.
The grieving mother shared on Twitter, “I am still a scientist in my head, but my heart is forever broken. The pain of losing a child takes a permanent place in your life. I still don’t know how it will impact my scientific journey.”
This heartbreaking story deeply saddens us. Our thoughts and support are with Leo’s family during this difficult time. May you find solace and strength.
Rest in peace, little angel!
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