A 16-year-old boy was killed when a wall collapsed on top of him in the back garden of a house in Hadley Wood.

The boy, who has not yet been identified, was trapped after the brick wall fell on to him at the house in Broadgates at 11.46am on Monday.

Police, fire and ambulance crews attended and the boy was freed from the rubble but died at the scene at about 12.50pm.

Neighbour Barry Swain, 61, who lives in Camlet Way, Hadley Wood, said he thought the youngster was one of a team of workmen carrying out work to the house in Broadgate Avenue.

He said: "Obviously, everyone is shocked that this has happened, and that a young man has tragically died.

"There were a lot of emergency services around, their response was admirable and an air ambulance landed in my back garden.

"The house where the accident happened is only about 20 yards from my home, but as it was in the back garden we couldn't see what had happened."

A post mortem was due to be held at Hornsey mortuary yesterday, and an inquest is due to be opened and adjourned at Hornsey Coroners Court.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident with the Health and Safety Executive.

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