Boy, 4, crushed by falling memorial stone in front of his great-grandmother
A four-year-old boy was crushed to death by a falling memorial stone in front of his great-grandmother in a horrific incident as investigators are now examining how he died.
Eli David Testa died in a tragic accident at Rawtenstall Cemetery while he was with his great-grandmother on Saturday July 5. A stone memorial fell on the boy, from Rossendale, Lancashire, and killed him. Little Eli was rushed to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where advanced life support was attempted but he sadly died as a result of his injuries. A CT scan revealed he died from a traumatic head injury.
An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned today at Preston Coroners' Court. Area Coroner Kate Bisset confirmed the police investigation had concluded but that the HSE had been "notified."
The coroner said: "Eli was in a cemetery with his great-grandmother when a stone cross on top of a grave came loose and fell on top of him causing injuries which sadly resulted in his death. An ambulance was called and full advanced life support was started at the scene and he was transported to the hospital.
"Given the nature of the injuries and that there was a known cause of his death at that time he was subject to a post-mortem CT scan [as opposed to a full post-mortem examination]. The cause of death is likely to be recorded as a traumatic head injury. That will be a matter for the coroner at the final hearing.
"Police have confirmed there is no longer any active police investigation. There was no reason to suspect there was any suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement at the time. The HSE have been notified."
The case is due to be mentioned in coroners' court on October 9 in order to assess whether there will be any ongoing proceedings, reported The Manchester Evening News. Tributes have been paid to the youngster, who was praised as being a "bright soul who brought joy in the purest, most magical way," while more than £17,000 has been raised for his family via a GoFundMe campaign.
Rossendale and Darwen MP Andy MacNae said during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions that would pass his condolences to Eli's parents Jessica and Tommy. The MP said: "Last week four-year-old Eli Testa was killed in Rawtenstall Cemetery when a memorial stone fell on him.
"All of Rossendale was shocked by this tragedy so I hope the Prime Minister will join me in offering our deepest condolences to Eli's parents and family."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "Can I extend my deepest condolences to Eli's friends and family."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Gentle, kind-hearted souls': Tributes paid to British friends found dead in Portugal
Tributes have been paid to two British friends who died while on holiday in Portugal. King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, who are believed to be from Ipswich, were found dead in a hotel swimming pool on Tuesday in Albufeira in the southern Algarve, according to local police. Both men were named by Portuguese media. A GoFundMe has been set up by family and friends to repatriate their bodies. The two friends 'tragically lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving,' the fundraiser said. Friends paid tribute to the pair as 'gentle, kind-hearted souls who brought light into every room they entered'. Mo and King were 'the sort of men you never hear a bad word about because there simply were none,' the GoFundMe said. 'They were deeply devoted to their families, their friends and their faith. And now, all of that has been taken so suddenly and so unfairly.' Their families are now facing repatriation costs of more than £10,000, which includes legal paperwork, funeral care overseas, and transport back to the UK, according to the GoFundMe page. The fundraiser said the sudden loss, paired with the financial burden, has left them struggling to cope. 'We are asking from the bottom of our hearts for your help,' friends wrote on the fundraising page. 'Every donation, no matter how big or small, will go directly to their families to help cover the cost of bringing Mo and King home and to support them during this time of unimaginable grief.' 'Your light will never fade,' the tribute added. 'Rest peacefully.' A spokesman for the Portuguese Police, Policia Judiciaria, told ITV News that the bodies were found at about 4.30am and officials from Portugal's National Republican Guard were first on the scene. "We went to the swimming pool and found CSI work there. There is no criminal evidence involved in the deaths of the two British citizens," the officer said. "The cause of deaths will be determined by the national medical cabinet in Portugal." A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting the families of two British men who have died in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities.' The fundraiser can be found here.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Twin toddlers killed as mum walked to shop with buggy in alleged hit-and-run
The horrific incident happened as Mollie Egold, 33, took her twins for a walk to the shop. Two toddlers have been killed after a car ploughed into a mum while pushing her sons in a buggy. The horrific incident happened as Mollie Egold, 33, took her twins for a walk to the shop in Maine in the US. At around 5.12pm local time on Friday, July 11, a man driving a white 2016 Hyundai Veloster reportedly struck the family. Emergency services responded to the crash in the area of 60 Hussey Hill Road in Albion. According to local news site WGME, Egold had been pushing the boys in a stroller at the time and was hit from behind. Officers allege that the driver of the Hyundai fled the scene but was later identified as Benjamin Lancaster, 44, and arrested. It was reported that one adult and two minor children were struck by a vehicle, and the vehicle fled the scene. Mollie, of Albion, was transported from the scene via LifeFlight to hospital with serious injuries, reports the Mirror. Maine State Police said in a statement that she remains in stable condition. One of the boys, identified in a GoFundMe as Bradley, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Egold and the other boy, Noah, were taken to the hospital. The organizers of the GoFundMe said Noah died days later at the hospital. Lancaster was taken into custody and transported to the Kennebec County Jail on the following charges: operating under the Influence causing death, operating under the Influence causing serious bodily injury (2 counts), leaving the scene of an accident causing death and leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury (2 counts). A police spokesperson said: "Troopers are seeking video footage or surveillance that may cover Hussey Road or Main Street in Albion between 5pm and 5:15pm on July 11, 2025, involving a white vehicle matching the description above. Anyone with relevant footage or information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Garret Booth at 207.624.7076. The Maine State Police were assisted by LifeFlight of Maine, Albion Fire Department, and Delta Ambulance." It is not immediately clear if Lancaster has entered a plea. According to the GoFundMe, set up by a family friend, reads: " I am setting up this Fund to assist my good friend Martha Foster Collins and her adopted daughter Mollie Katrina Egold after a tragic accident. On July 11th, Mollie was walking to the store with her twin 2 and 1/2 yr old boys in a cart. A hit and run driver struck them just minutes after leaving and later was apprehended." Talking about the medical side of things the page explains: "One twin, Bradley died at the scene. The other, Noah was transported to ICU in Portland in serious condition. Noah was pronounced brain dead this morning, 7/13/25, was retested again Monday and Tuesday morning. Noah tested for the 3rd consecutive day to be brain dead on 7/15 and was taken off life support. He is with Bradley in Heaven. Mollie was transported to ICU in Bangor with multiple broken bones and had two surgeries already." So far it has raised more than $45,000. You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Twin toddlers killed in alleged hit-and-run as mum walked to shop with buggy
33-year-old Mollie Egold had decided to take her twin sons for a walk to the shop but a man driving a white 2016 Hyundai Veloster struck the family before fleeing the scene A trip to the shops turned into every parent's worst nightmare when a car ploughed into a mum pushing her two sons in a buggy. The horrific incident happened on Friday, July 11 when 33-year-old Mollie Egold had decided to take her twin sons for a walk to the shop in Maine, but at around 5.12pm local time a man driving a white 2016 Hyundai Veloster reportedly struck the family. Emergency services responded to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash in the area of 60 Hussey Hill Road in Albion. WGME reported that Egold had been pushing the boys in a stroller at the time and was hit from behind. Police allege that the driver of the Hyundai fled the scene but was later identified as Benjamin Lancaster, 44, and arrested. It was reported that one adult and two minor children were struck by a vehicle, and the vehicle fled the scene. Mollie, of Albion, was transported from the scene via LifeFlight to hospital with serious injuries. She remains in stable condition, Maine State Police said in a statement. One of the boys, identified in a GoFundMe as Bradley, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Egold and the other boy, Noah, were taken to the hospital. The organizers of the GoFundMe said Noah died days later at the hospital. Lancaster was taken into custody and transported to the Kennebec County Jail on the following charges: operating under the Influence causing death, operating under the Influence causing serious bodily injury (2 counts), leaving the scene of an accident causing death and leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury (2 counts). A police spokesperson said: "Troopers are seeking video footage or surveillance that may cover Hussey Road or Main Street in Albion between 5pm and 5:15pm on July 11, 2025, involving a white vehicle matching the description above. Anyone with relevant footage or information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Garret Booth at 207.624.7076. The Maine State Police were assisted by LifeFlight of Maine, Albion Fire Department, and Delta Ambulance." It is not immediately clear if Lancaster has entered a plea. According to the GoFundMe, set up by a family friend, reads: " I am setting up this Fund to assist my good friend Martha Foster Collins and her adopted daughter Mollie Katrina Egold after a tragic accident. On July 11th, Mollie was walking to the store with her twin 2 and 1/2 yr old boys in a cart. A hit and run driver struck them just minutes after leaving and later was apprehended." Talking about the medical side of things the page expalins: "One twin, Bradley died at the scene. The other, Noah was transported to ICU in Portland in serious condition. Noah was pronounced brain dead this morning, 7/13/25, was retested again Monday and Tuesday morning. Noah tested for the 3rd consecutive day to be brain dead on 7/15 and was taken off life support. He is with Bradley in Heaven. Mollie was transported to ICU in Bangor with multiple broken bones and had two surgeries already." So far it has raised more than $45,000.
