An inquest has opened into the death of a three-year-old boy killed after being hit by a tractor. Albie Speakman suffered fatal injuries when he was struck by the vehicle at his father's farm off Bentley Hall Road, in Walshaw, Bury, on July 16.
A coroner has today heard that he was with his father when the tragedy occurred. An inquest into Albie's death was formally opened at Rochdale Coroner's Court this morning (Tuesday).
Police coroner's officer Jane Scullion told the brief hearing: "It's understood on July 16, Albie was with his father at his farm when he was struck by a farm vehicle. A police investigation is ongoing."
READ MORE: Manchester's abandoned and 'historic' hippodrome 'crying out to be restored'
The inquest was told that a post-mortem had given Albie's cause of death as 'head injuries'. Coroner Catherine McKenna adjourned the hearing until September 13 when she ordered a review to be carried out. A date for a full inquest has not yet been set.
Following the tragic incident, Albie's family desperately tried to get the toddler to hospital before flagging an ambulance on Rochdale Old Road, Bury, at around 12.45pm. Albie was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
In a heartbreaking tribute to her son, Albie's mum Leah vowed to 'find a way to be strong'. She said: "Albie was an incredibly loving, affectionate and caring boy who just wanted everyone to be happy.
"He was so sensitive and wanted everyone to be ok, especially the people that he loved. We all love Albie so much more than we can ever put into words - especially his Nan and his ‘Nanny-Nanny’, as he would always call her.
"I will miss absolutely everything about Albie, his voice, his smile, the smell of his skin and the feel of his little hands on my face when he would say ‘I love you mummy girl’. I always call him my little sunshine boy because he has brought so much light into my life and he is my little ray of sunshine, and I don’t want his life to end here, I need to carry on living for him and take him with me wherever I go.
"We still have so many more memories to make, Albie! I love him so much and I know he will find his way back to me someday, somehow, because we need each other. Until then I will look for him in everything I do and I will celebrate his life. I’m not sure how to carry on this life without you but I will find a way to be strong for you and make you proud."
In the days following his death, friends and family held a vigil in Radcliffe in memory of the ‘sunshine boy'. Mourners laid candles and released balloons to mark Albie’s passing.
Albie's funeral will be held at Radcliffe Crematorium at 2.30pm next Tuesday (August 9). Members of the public are invited to attend.
A horse-drawn carriage will take Albie from Radcliffe town centre to the crematorium and friends and family are expected to line Ainsworth Road to say their final goodbyes.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- Major road closed due to burst water main - latest updates
- The new flats aimed at Gen Z with a cinema, gym and yoga studio
- "My dad always told me football wasn't for girls - this is what the Lionesses historic Euro win means to me"
- Investigation underway after eight people rescued from apartment block fire
