A 12-year-old boy has died after a garage wall collapsed in Clacton-on-Sea.
Essex police said a man in his 30s had been rescued from the rubble with an injury to his arm but despite the best efforts of paramedics the boy had died at the scene.
Police said his death, at a property in St John’s Road was not being treated as suspicious, and that the man and the boy were know to each other.
Emergency services, including the fire brigade, were called out just before 7pm on Friday after the garage, which was attached to a house, collapsed.
Essex fire and rescue service said: “Firefighters worked to release both people, a man and a 12-year old child, from under the bricks.
“Although crews were able to release the man, the child sadly died at the scene.”
The service’s station manager, Nick Singleton, said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with everyone who knew the child as well as the wider Clacton community.
“Our firefighters worked incredibly hard to save both casualties and this is never the outcome we want to see. We will be offering further support to all of the firefighters who attended this difficult incident.”
DI James Hardingham, who is leading the police investigation, said: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of those concerned at this sad time.
“We’re continuing our inquiries to establish the facts leading to the wall collapse.
“If anyone has information that can help us, or anyone who was in St John’s Road just before 7pm last night and saw anything that could help our investigation, should call us.”
