The family of a young boy who tragically passed away when a gravestone fell on him is advocating for the prohibition of upright grave markers. Eli Testa lost his life on July 5 after a grave cross at Rawtenstall Cemetery in Lancashire toppled over and struck him. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
Following a coroner’s report attributing the cause of death to a severe head injury, Eli’s parents are now pushing for all cemetery gravestones to be laid flat and securely anchored to the ground. They are also demanding mandatory routine inspections of gravestones nationwide.
A petition on the UK Parliament website has garnered over 900 signatures, with Eli’s father, Thomas Testa, expressing his desire for any future legislation on this matter to be named ‘Eli’s Law’ in memory of his son.
Thomas emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, noting that many large headstones in cemeteries date back almost two centuries without proper regulations or safety measures, potentially leading to more tragic incidents like Eli’s.
The grieving father revealed that they had met with the family of Ciaran Williamson, an eight-year-old boy who suffered a similar fate in 2015. The Williamson family received a substantial out-of-court settlement following a fatal accident inquiry in Scotland that highlighted lapses in adhering to safety protocols by Glasgow City Council.
Expressing disappointment in the government’s response to the issue, Thomas stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of cemetery visitors and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to prevent future tragedies.
An inquest held at Preston Coroners’ Court detailed the circumstances of Eli’s death, confirming that a loose stone cross on a grave caused the fatal injuries. The coroner indicated that the likely cause of death would be recorded as a traumatic head injury, with no suspicion of foul play or active police investigation reported.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed of the incident, while the family continues to advocate for improved safety measures in cemeteries to prevent similar accidents in the future.