Boy dies after hanging 'accident'

An eight-year-old boy has died after apparently hanging himself accidentally as he played on a rope swing in his back garden in South Yorkshire.

Harry Rowse, of Carcroft, Doncaster, was playing with friends on 10 July when the accident happened.

It is believed he slipped and the rope became tangled round his neck.

He was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary and then to a specialist unit at Sheffield Children's Hospital, where he died on Tuesday, police said.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Wednesday and an inquest will be opened later, a South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said.

There were no suspicious circumstances, she added.

Just at the weekend his grandma had told a member of staff that he was as happy as she had known him Simon Hickton, head of Carcroft Primary School

"It was reported to police via the ambulance service that a boy had been found hanging from a tree in the garden of his home in Carcroft last Thursday morning," the force spokeswoman said.

"The boy was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, but later transferred to Sheffield Children's Hospital where he was said to have been in a critical condition.

"The child died on Tuesday 15 July in Sheffield Children's Hospital. "

Simon Hickton, head of Harry's school, Carcroft Primary, said Harry had bought his teacher an end-of-year leaving present to thank her for all her help.

Mr Hickton said: "Harry had been at our school for only a few months but he settled well, was full of energy, smiles and new friends.

"Just at the weekend his grandma had told a member of staff that he was as happy as she had known him.

"Our sympathy is now with his family as they try to come to terms with this tragic accident."