Police have named a 12-year-old boy who died in an incident at an indoor ski and snowboarding centre. Louis Watkiss, of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, was fatally injured at the SnowDome in Tamworth on Friday evening, Staffordshire police said.
The force said in a statement: “Police were called at 6.40pm on September 24 to reports that a child had been seriously injured at the SnowDome. Officers attended the location, along with ambulance crews. Sadly, Louis, died of his injuries shortly afterwards.
“Louis’s family are being supported by specially trained officers. We would ask everyone to respect the family’s right to grieve in private during this extremely difficult time. Staffordshire police are continuing to investigate the circumstances with support from the Health and Safety Executive.”
West Midlands ambulance service previously said the boy died “after an incident on the slope”.
The ski centre’s website said on Monday that the centre remained closed to the public for now.
A statement from the centre’s operators released over the weekend said: “The SnowDome is to remain temporarily closed following the tragic death of a child on Friday evening. The directors and staff are deeply shocked by what happened, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this terrible time.”
It said management were cooperating fully with the investigation and that the centre would reopen once investigators had completed their work.
Alan White, the leader of Staffordshire county council, told the BBC: “We must wait for the circumstances to be established, but I would offer my deepest sympathies at this terrible time to the family and friends of the deceased and to everyone affected by this tragedy.”
