05-07-2025
Four-year-old boy dies after in cemetery after gravestone falls on top of him
The tragedy unfolded in Lancashire this afternoon.
A four-year-old boy has tragically died in a cemetery after a gravestone fell onto him.
Emergency crews rushed to Rawtenstall Cemetery, in Lancashire, at around 1pm today. Sadly, despite medics best efforts the youngster was pronounced dead at the scene.
As the Mirror reports, police have said the boy's death is not being treated as suspicious. They are set to pass a file to the HM Coroner "in due course".
A Lancashire Police spokesperson told the Lancashire Telegraph:"We were called to Rawtenstall Cemetery at 1pm today [July 5] following reports a gravestone had fallen onto a child.
"Tragically, and despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the boy sadly died. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this devastating time. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed onto HM Coroner in due course."
Rawtenstall Cemetery currently holds 21,000 burials across 17 acres, according to the local government website.
The cemetery has a chapel which can seat around 40 people. The burial grounds cater for Catholic, Church of England, non-Conformist and Muslim funerals.
The shocking news comes after two teenage boys were found dead on railway tracks with Joshua Myres named and pictured as the first teen in the double tragedy.
The teens, both 16, were discovered near Poynton Station, close to Stockport, Greater Manchester.
In May, Cheshire Police had issued an appeal to help trace Joshua, from Handforth, after he vanished and was believed to have made his way to Devon and Cornwall 200 miles away.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The teen was found but went missing again for a day in June. Then on Thursday, Joshua and another teen were found dead near the station shortly before 10.30pm. The British Transport Police, who are leading the investigation, said their deaths are not being treated as suspicious.
Railway lines were shutdown so medics could reach the teenagers, but sadly both boys were pronounced dead at the scene.
Several services were affected by the closure including Avanti West Coast, Cross Country and Northern services - and trains didn't resume until around 6am on Friday.
A passenger who got off a train at the station in Poyton on Friday told Manchester Evening News the double tragedy was "devastating", saying: "It's just devastating. I have teenage children myself, including a 16-year-old boy. It brings it so close to home."
No further details surrounding the circumstances of what police suspect happened have been revealed. A BTP spokesperson said: "Officers were called at around 10.10pm (on July 3rd) to reports of a casualty on the tracks near Poynton railway station.
"Officers attended with paramedics. Very sadly and despite the best efforts of paramedics two 16-year-old boys were both pronounced dead at the scene."
