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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Sam Honey & Neil Shaw

Tributes paid to boy, 14, who died in fall at fairground

A 14-year-old boy who died in an accident while visiting a travelling fair has been named as tributes to him are left at the scene. Mackenzie Croxford-Cook died after an incident at the fairground in Kent after a reported fall from a fairground ride on Wednesday, August 3.

Despite the est efforts of emergency personnel, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene, reports KentLive. Kent Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious and the Health and Safety Executive has been assisting the emergency service response.

Tributes have been left near to the entrance of the fair with pictures, balloons, cards and flowers. One message reads: "To Mackenzie, you don't know how much people are gonna miss you [...] We all loved you."

Another reads: "Rest in peace, you went too soon. I wish you were still here, I miss your hugs, smile, laugh and everything you do. You were too young."

The fair was not open to the public at the time of the incident. The ride involved in Mackenzie's death has been removed.

A spokesperson for Forrest Amusements said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic incident which occurred this morning (Wednesday 3rd August) at one of our funfair events in Pencester Gardens, Dover.

"Kent Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner. The Health and Safety Executive has attended the scene along with the emergency services."

At this time, the exact circumstances surrounding the boy's death remain unclear. An HSE spokesman said: “ We are currently making initial enquiries. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those affected by this tragic incident.”

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called by South East Coast Ambulance Service after a teenage boy suffered injuries at a funfair site in Pencester Gardens, Dover, at 7.45am on Wednesday 3 August 2022.

“Officers attended, along with Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and the boy was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”

Forrest Amusements was founded in 1889 and is the largest supplier of funfair attractions in the county.

A witness told the PA news agency that she had seen “three ambulances, a couple of fire trucks and some police vehicles along Pencester Road, which was blocked off. They were saying there had been a fatality, and the entrance to the fair had been cordoned off with tape.”

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