A coroner has said there are questions to be asked over the death of a 10-year-old boy who was electrocuted at a Blackpool hotel while on a family holiday.
Jack Piper-Sheach of Grimsby suffered serious injuries as a result of an incident in the lobby of Tiffany’s Hotel on 3 September.
He was found unresponsive at 10.39pm and was taken to hospital in Blackpool before being transferred to Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool. He died four days later.
An inquest into Jack’s death was opened on Friday and adjourned by the Blackpool and Fylde senior coroner Alan Wilson.
He said: “There’s clearly questions to be asked about how this incident happened. Jack was on holiday with his family in Blackpool, staying at the Tiffany’s Hotel on the North Promenade.
“It was reported that during the evening of 3 September, Jack had been in the lobby area and at some point he’s become unresponsive and was believed to have been electrocuted.”
The short hearing heard that Jack’s family had decided not to attend the inquest opening in the knowledge it would be brief. The family will be informed of any developments and the details heard.
Wilson said paramedics gave the boy first aid at the hotel before he was taken to hospital.
Jack died on 7 September at Alder Hey, a specialist children’s hospital, and an initial assessment of the cause of death was made by a paediatric consultant.
“Essentially, she reports that this young boy suffered an electrocution injury that caused cardiac arrest and then a lack of oxygen to the brain.”
Wilson said an interim report has been completed by Lancashire police, with a full report expected by mid-November. Police have taken witness statements from the hotel’s general manager and director, he added.
The coroner also said he would request a witness statement from relevant senior members of staff at Blackpool council regarding any interactions between the authority and directors of the hotel relating to any health and safety issues.
Tiffany’s Hotel, known locally as “the pink hotel” is a short distance north of Blackpool Tower on the seafront. It has been closed since the incident.
After Jack’s death, a hotel spokesperson said it would cooperate with any investigation and passed on condolences to the boy’s family.
A further pre-inquest hearing is scheduled for 15 December and the full inquest is set for 6 or 7 February 2024.
