Boy, 10, crushed to death by lift at school for disabled children

A 10-year-old boy has died after he was crushed by a lift at a school for disabled children.

Emergency services rushed to the school near Sydney, Australia, after the pupil – who is believed to have been a wheelchair user – was reported to be trapped.

Firefighters attempted to free the seriously injured boy from under the lift at St Lucy’s School in Wahroonga but he could not be saved.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene at around 2pm local time on Wednesday (3am UK time).

St Lucy’s School is for primary and high school students with autism, sensory impairments and mild to severe intellectual disabilities, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Shortly after the horrific incident, the school was placed into a partial lockdown with around 230 students told to stay in their classroom.

New South Wales Police said its officers have remained at the scene following the youngster’s death.

A spokesman for the force said: ‘About 2pm today (Wednesday 1 November 2023), emergency services were called to a school on Cleveland Street, Wahroonga, following reports a child was trapped.

‘Officers attached to Kuring-Gai Police Area Command arrived to find a ten-year-old boy trapped under a lift.

‘Fire and Rescue NSW attempted to remove the boy however he died at the scene.’

Pictures from the school show a large emergency presence, including rescue vehicles and investigating officers.

Police said that a crime scene has been established and a recovery operation is continuing.

They added: ‘A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.’

Earlier this year, two eight-year-old girls were killed at a school in Wimbledon, London, after a Land Rover crashed through a fence and hit a group of children.

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