An inquest heard that a schoolboy fell 40 feet to his death after falling through a moss-covered skylight on the roof of a warehouse.
In April 2022, Jethro Middleton, age 13, with two pals scaled and sprinted across the top of a warehouse on an industrial estate in Okehampton, Devon.
Jet, a small child, fell through a moss-covered skylight and landed on the concrete floor below.
Jet, who played rugby for his team Okehampton RFC, passed away on April 13 due to catastrophic brain injuries sustained in a terrible event.
When Jet fell through the roof, he was with two pals who cannot be named for legal reasons and a dozen other youngsters, according to the Exeter Coroner’s Court (pictured).
Jet was with two unnamed pals and a dozen other teens, the Exeter Coroner’s Court inquest heard.
They were all gathered and bored near the warehouse. The adolescents then scaled a shed, which led them to scaffolding for ongoing roof repairs.
Jet spotted people and cars functioning at the warehouse factory and decided to walk back across the top, according to the Exeter Coroner’s Court.
Jet, who may have been distracted by his phone, was unable to differentiate between the skylight panels and the moss-covered roof.
He then stepped on one of the plastic panels, and one of the children reported hearing a “crack.” Jet fell 30 to 40 feet to his death.
Two of the companions peered down the hole where he had fallen and saw him laying on the ground. One child stated that he almost fell himself.
Coroner Philip Spinney stated, “While running across the roof area, a section of the roof collapsed and he fell through it to the concrete floor approximately 30 to 40 feet below.”
Despite the efforts of police and medical personnel, he was declared dead at the spot.
After the fatal event, the court heard that the adolescents had spotted warning and danger signs but did not pay heed to them.
One child explained, “We did it because it was scary and fun.”
The group then notified warehouse factory personnel and contacted emergency agencies.
An autopsy determined that Jet died from a fatal head injury.
The warehouse roof was being repaired, according to a Health and Safety assessment. It was added that the adolescents accessed the roof through scaffolding.
Philip Spinney, the coroner, found that the terrible death was accidental.
»13-year-old schoolboy died after falling 40 feet through a moss-covered skylight«