4-year-old-boy crushed to death after tombstone falls on him at cemetery

Monday, July 7, 2025 - A four-year-old boy has di£d after a gravestone fell onto him in a cemetery in Lancashire, England. 

Emergency services were called to Rawtenstall Cemetery at around 1pm on Saturday, July 5, following reports that a gravestone had fallen onto a child. Despite efforts to save him, the boy di£d.  

Lancashire Police said his de@th is not being treated as suspicious and that it will pass a file onto the HM Coroner “in due course”. 

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "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 de@th is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed onto HM Coroner in due course." 

The cemetery, located on Burnley Road, caters for Catholic, Church of England, Non-Conformist and Muslim burials and currently holds over 21,000 burials and is around 17 acres.