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Boy’s snow death inquest
Joshua Houlgate.
Tragic Joshua Houlgate collapsed and died as he built an igloo in the snow with friends, an inquest heard.
The 10-year-old’s family can now lay him to rest after the inquest opening in Wakefield yesterday, where the schoolboy’s death was called “a total tragedy”.
Wakefield Corner’s Court heard that Joshua had left his home in Smawthorne, Castleford, to play with his friend in the snow on the morning of February 5.
Coroner’s officer Anthony Lancaster told the court: “They went sledging in a nearby park and after a while they returned closer to their home and with other children he started to build an igloo.”
Mr Lancaster said after some time Joshua suddenly said he didn’t feel well.
He added: “He went to a nearby tree, grabbed hold of it and then collapsed to the ground.”
Friends rushed to get his mother Sara Houlgate, 35, who battled to save his life before paramedics took him to hospital by ambulance.
Despite their efforts, Joshua was pronounced dead at hospital just before 1.15pm that day.
No cause of death was available at yesterday’s hearing, but adjourning the inquest pending the outcome of further reports, West Yorkshire deputy coroner Melanie Williamson said Joshua’s death was “a total tragedy”.
She also issued a cremation order.
Speaking to the YEP after the tragedy, Mrs Houlgate said Joshua, a Smawthorne Henry Moore J&I School pupil, was autistic and had suffered from epilepsy as a younger boy.
He had not had a fit for two years.
His grandmother Rose, 63, added: “He went out to play as fit as a fiddle. It is just unbelievable.”
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
