A teenage boy was tragically crushed at a travelling funfair after he climbed up onto a ride, an inquest has heard today.

Mackenzie Croxford-Cook, 14, was pinned six feet off the ground after becoming trapped between an arm of the ride and a hydraulic supporting beam.

During the hearing at County Hall in Maidstone today, it was heard Mackenzie, from Deal, entered the yet-to-open funfair in Pencester Gardens in Dover with his friends and had been climbing on a non-operational ride called ‘Body Count’.

However, when the young man climbed on the ride – which consists of several arms with chairs – it spun around and hit him, pinning him against a supporting beam.

Emergency services were called to the scene at just past 7.40am on August 3, 2022, after Mackenzie’s friends called an ambulance.

An ambulance service statement to the coroner’s court said paramedics had found Mackenzie still pinned by the ride. The report said that the teen’s chest had been crushed, and paramedics had been unable to revive him at the scene.

A post-mortem gave his cause of death as traumatic internal injuries, and added that while a urine sample showed previous cannabis use, it was not of a high enough dosage to suggest it was notable to the incident.

The inquest, which is ongoing, is set to hear more evidence on the security at the ground and how the teenagers were able to access the ride.

A representative of Dover District Council said that as the fair was not operational yet – as it had been due to full open later that dav – it was deemed to still be still under construction, meaning security fencing around the perimeter was not required to be fully in place.

Mackenzie, a student at the Goodwin Academy in Deal, was described as a “beautiful, special boy” following his death.

Speaking to KentOnline, his heartbroken nan, Debbie Harris, said her “thoughtful, loving” grandson would “always be in our hearts”.

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“He was always happy to help others – it was something he took great pride in,” she added.

Mackenzie grew up in Deal from the age of six, attending the town’s St Mary’s primary school and later the Goodwin Academy.

His nan said he enjoyed maths and science.

Tributes to Mackenzie were also left at the park, with notes paying homage to his character.

A spokesperson for Forrest Amusements, which runs the fair, said at the time the company was “deeply saddened ” by Mackenzie’s death.

“Our thoughts and sympathy are with the boy’s family at this terrible time,” they said.

“As a family-run funfair, this incident has affected us all.

“We would like to thank all the emergency services that attended that day, who did everything they possibly could, and we are very grateful to each and every one of them.”

The inquest continues.