Boy who snuck into funfair was crushed to death by mechanical ride arm

Boy, 14, was crushed to death by the mechanical arm of a fairground ride after climbing on it with friends when funfair was closed to the public, inquest hears

• Mackenzie Croxford-Cook, 14, died last August after sneaking into Dover fair
• Teenager was crushed to death by the mechanised arm of ‘Body Count’ ride 
• Coroner previously called for fresh investigation into how teen snuck into fair

A teenager who sneaked into a closed funfair with friends was crushed to death by the mechanical arm of one of the rides, an inquest heard today.

Mackenzie Croxford-Cook, 14, died last August after entering a travelling fairground in Pencester Gardens in Dover before it opened to the public. 

The teenager had been playing on the closed ride known as ‘Body Count’ when it spun, trapping Croxford-Cook and crushing him between the arm and its support beam.

Mackenzie, who was found with traces of cannabis in his urine during post-mortem testing, was pinned six feet off the ground and died after suffering ‘traumatic internal injuries’.

Mackenzie Croxford-Cook , 14 died last August after entering a fairground in Pencester Gardens in Dover before it opened to the public 

The inquest heard how Mackenzie, who lived with his grandmother in Deal, Kent, was mechanically trapped and suspended 6ft in the air.

He and a number of friends gained access to the fun fair and used the dodgems and trampolines before the teen was trapped and crushed to death in scenes that sparked hundreds of tributes to the youngster.

Emergency crews rushed to the funfair in Pencester Gardens in Dover, Kent around 7.45am on August 3, 2022.

Police attended the park, along with an ambulance crew and fire and rescue services but despite the best efforts of paramedics the 14-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene just 15 minutes later, the inquest was told.

A statement from South East Coast Ambulance Service read to the court said: ‘The patient was with friends playing with a closed fairground ride.

It was said the boy lost his footing after climbing the ride ‘Body Count’ despite his friends pleading for him to get down. Pictured: First responders near the Body Count ride on August 3

A post-mortem examination determined his injuries were consistent with his chest being crushed. Pictured: Specialists from Kent Fire and Rescue Technical Rescue collaborating with officers to assist in the recovery of Mr Crozford-Cook’s body on August 3

‘When they were climbing it, it spun in a way that trapped the patient, which resulted in his chest being crushed by the ride.

‘On arrival we were met by a group of young teenage girls who directed us to a ride where their friend was said to be trapped between the ride and the arm of the ride.

‘He was on his back and crushed from the chest down.’

A statement from Steven Partington, Watch Manager at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), was also read at the inquest by the coroner.

Mr Partington said KFRS was called to reports of a male trapped with the mechanics of a fairground ride at 7:44am.

He said the fairground ride, known as ‘Body Count’, consisted of a single boom arm which revolved around an axel with a hydraulic arm. The arms were attached to a gondola.

Detective Sergeant Anthony Welch told the inquest that a friend had messaged Mackenzie around 3am and the pair arranged to meet at Victoria Park in Deal at 4am.

They then boarded a train to Dover where they entered the fairground and proceeded to play on bungee trampolines and dodgems.

They had previously made contact with some female friends, three of whom joined them at the park. It was at this point that they moved onto playing on the Body Count ride.

Mr Croxford-Cook’s cause of death was being defined as a ‘traumatic rupture of the liver and spleen.’ Pictured: Emergency responders responding to the fun fair on August 3 after his death

Shortly, after the incident, Kent Police confirmed Mr Croxford-Cook’s death was not being treated as suspicious. But the Health and Safety Executive did launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Pictured: First responders at the fair on August 3

Mr Welch told the inquest Mackenzie and two of his friends had pushed the ride until it gained momentum and was moving independently.

The friends recalled Mackenzie saying he was going to climb to the top of the ride. But as he did so, he got his leg stuck and became crushed between the moving arms.

Mr Welch said the teenagers attempted to move the ride arm and free Mackenzie but were unable to do so.

The male friend told police he noticed Mackenzie had turned purple and it was at this point that he called 999.

Mr Welch told the inquest the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said ‘I love you Mackie’ and kissed him on the forehead.

The fire service attended the scene at 8:03am where they discovered Mackenzie trapped between the gondola arm and a boom arm.

Officers from Kent Police spoke to four of Mackenzie’s friends, who were present at the time of his death, after the incident.

Mr Welch said one boy, who attended Goodwin Academy in Deal with Mackenzie and had known the 14-year-old for around three or four months, described him as a ‘joker’ and somebody who was ‘spontaneous and who did things for a thrill and to get a laugh from others.’

The medical cause of death given at the post-mortem examination was a traumatic rupture of the liver and spleen as a result of injuries from being crushed by the ride.

A toxicology report found traces of THC acid – a component of cannabis – in Mackenzie’s urine but this was not deemed to have played a part in the incident.

The inquest also heard from Luke Shufflebottom, who had operated the Body Count ride since 2014.

Mr Shufflebottom, who appeared by video link, explained that the ride is able to free-wheel once it has been set up and does not have a locking mechanism, which is how Mackenzie and his friends were able to move it.

He said this is for ‘safety reasons’ when the ride is in operation and means the arms can be moved freely.

Mr Shufflebottom told the inquest: ‘The incident – amongst everyone I have spoken to – is the first of its kind.’

While nobody was deemed to have culpability for the incident, Roger Walton, Chief Officer at DDC, said the council is considering reviewing its terms and conditions for use of council land – including requiring fairground operators to supply on-site security provisions out of operating hours following the tragic incident.

He told the inquest held in Maidstone, Kent: ‘Security provisions out of hours to mimic security in operating hours, who deal with anti social behaviour, does seem to us worthy of consideration.’

Assistant Coroner Mr Dillon concluded that Mackenzie died as a result of ‘misadventure’ – when a death arises from a deliberate human act which goes unexpectedly and unintentionally wrong.

He offered his condolences to Mackenzie’s family.

Mackenzie, a student at the Goodwin Academy in Deal, was described as a ‘beautiful, special boy’ following his death.

His heartbroken grandmother, Debbie Harris, said her ‘thoughtful, loving’ grandson would ‘always be in our hearts’.

She said: ‘He was always happy to help others – it was something he took great pride in.’

A spokesperson for Forrest Amusements, which runs the fair, said at the time the company was ‘deeply saddened ‘ by Mackenzie’s death.

They said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathy are with the boy’s family at this terrible time.

‘As a family-run funfair, this incident has affected us all.

‘We would like to thank all the emergency services that attended that day, who did everything they possibly could, and we are very grateful to each and every one of them.’

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