A four-year-old boy has died after falling off a motorcycle with his seven-year-old cousin, according to an investigation.
Crook Coroners’ Court said Lennox Railton Craggs was excited to see the new 50cc Yamaha when it arrived home in Bishop Auckland earlier this year.
The young man had spent the previous day on a quad and his grandmother had put on his protective clothing – an armor and a motorcycle jacket – to wash.
The court heard his cousin was learning to drive his new mini-bike under supervision and Lennox had asked for a turn.
The investigator learned that he was told he should bring his cycling gear and go on his back.
But the young man, a student at Prince Bishops Community School in Coundon Grange, couldn’t wait and pushed his way forward, forcing the older boy to sit in the back of the seat and pull the lever off the seat. ‘accelerator.
The court learned he fell while the couple walked through rugged terrain near their home on Elliott Terrace in Eldon Lane.
Lennox hit a metal pole designed to prevent cars from gaining access to the lawn area and suffered severe abdominal injuries.
Lennox Railton Craggs
Detective Inspector Leanne Green, the investigating police officer, said: “Lennox was described as a toddler who liked motorcycles and quads.
“He had gone quad biking with his family the day before.
“His parents described him as enthusiastic about the new bike and immediately asked if he could test it.
“They told him he would have to wait until the right time and that he would have to bring his protective gear.”
Lennox’s cousin understood that he had been told he could go there and said he would have to go on his back, according to the court.
DI Green said: “Lennox pushed him and hit his head on the stomach to get in front.
“She has writhed in his arms. Although he was four years old and his cousin seven, he is described as very strong and she is very light.”
The court heard that Lennox’s mother, Rachel, was in the kitchen picking up mannequins for her other children and saw that she was riding her bicycle when she left.
She yelled at him to get off the bike and not get on it.
DI Green said: “He has pulled the lever so he can go faster and he has taken off.
“His father, Michael, was alerted and chased after the motorcycle.
“He traveled diagonally across the tarmac.
“As the bike went through for a while, it was seen that the rear wheel was moving.
“Michael described seeing Lennox get off the bike and hit the vertical metal pole.”
The court heard that Lennox had been crying and was picked up and taken to his home, where his screams quickly turned to moans and he “changed color.”
When his father tried to drop him, his legs gave way.
Ambulance crews arrived at the scene around 1pm on Sunday 23 January this year and Lennox was flown to Newcastle RVI.
Along the way, doctors attempted emergency surgery, operating on her breast to give Lennox the best chance of survival, the investigation said.
Arriving at the hospital, Lennox was in cardiac arrest.
He died shortly afterwards.
Floral tributes left for little Lennox
The pathologist of the home officer, Dr. Nigel Cooper, gave the cause of death as bleeding and abdominal injury.
The court learned that an autopsy found that the accident had caused a fatal tear in the child’s liver, which caused him to bleed internally.
The forensic assistant, Dr. Leslie Hamilton, concluded that Lennox, who had two older twin sisters and two younger brothers, died as a result of an accident.
The coroner said: “Despite all the proper and totally heroic efforts to save his life, none of this was successful.
“The reality is that nothing would make a difference.”
“In terms of a forensic conclusion, no one wanted this to happen.
“It was something that happened quickly and spontaneously before it could be prevented.”
A balloon launch to honor Lennox’s life was made in his community after his death.
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