Boy, three, was crushed to death by a poorly-secured eight stone marble fireplace

The death of a three-year-old boy who was crushed by a falling fireplace was 'an accident waiting to happen', an inquest heard.

Jack Miles died on impact after the heavy eight stone marble fireplace surround crushed him whilst he was playing with his little sister Alexia, causing 'irrecoverable' injuries.

Coroner Terence Carney refused to read out the 'graphic, gruesome and grotesque' details of the medical report at South Tyneside Coroners Court, as it would 'unnecessarily distress the members of his family'. 

The inquest heard how the child had been stood on his tiptoes by the fireplace at his mother's friend Emma Burness' home when the marble crumbled from the wall, crushing the toddler, despite his mother Andrea's best efforts to save him