Toddler killed in tragic home accident

Toddler killed when a bookcase fell on him in a tragic accident.

Little Blake Shaw was sitting on the floor of his family’s farmhouse at Clear Lake when a freestanding bookcase fell without any warning, reports Herald Sun.

The three year olds parents were last night struggling to comprehend the tragedy.

Tim Shaw said he and partner Kirstie, who moved to the area from the city, adored their son.

“The worst thing the kid ever did was smile,’’ Mr Shaw told the Herald Sun. “We moved for the kids.”

Investigations into what caused the fall of the bookcase, understood to be heavy, were continuing.

Blake had not been trying to climb the structure and was well away from it when it suddenly fell, the family said. It had been placed in a corner and pushed hard against the wall.

Emergency crews were called to the property about 7.30pm on Monday, they tried to revive Blake but he died at the scene. Several ambulances and the ambulance air wing all responded.

Grandfather Graham Shaw, raced from Melbourne to be by the family’s side, said Blake was a happy child who always had a smile on his face.

He had an endless appetite, especially for lollies, and loved nothing more than playing with the family’s five dogs.

“He loved this place,’’ Mr Shaw said. “All his toys are scattered all over the place — just a typical little kid.

“He was just a perfect little boy,” he said.

“He just happened to be sitting on the floor and this thing fell down from the wall.

“No one was near it. It was just a freak accident.

“It was just a fluke.

“It was just a bookshelf with doors on it. I don’t want to look at that thing, so I’m going to knock it apart and burn it.”

Our thoughts are with the family.

Share your comments below.

Image via Herald Sun

16 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 27 Aug 2021
    11:14 am
Oh my goodness….what a horrible thing to happen.

- - ella12 said
  - 29 Aug 2016
    4:41 pm
This is just so terribly sad, my thoughts are with the family also. xo

- - mom90758 said
  - 29 Aug 2016
    1:42 pm
Oh! What a terrible tragedy! I hadn’t heard this horrible news yet. Poor little one! 🙁

- - tessie said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    11:41 am
Such a tragic accident and loss of a beautiful little boy. My condolences to the family. I’m glad they are getting rid of the bookshelf. They don’t need to be reminded every day of what happened.

- - rovermum said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    12:56 pm
This was such a tragic and freak accident. Seemingly, it could have happened at any time. So sad for the entire extended family. My thoughts are with them.

- - mom134803 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    12:25 pm
What a devastating incident ! Thinking about and praying for this family.
Think it’s good to remove/destroy the bookcase what caused such grief.

- - mum4107 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    5:41 am
Oh my goodness. What a freak tragic accident.
My thoughts are with the family

- - mom101628 said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    9:12 pm
Terrible news of this accident. I heard the ‘experts’ commenting on TV that you simply have to bolt this sort of furniture down either to the floor or the wall behind it. This is hard to do if you are renting a place. Can understand the reaction to burn the offending item.
My condolences to the family.

- - jess said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    8:41 pm
so terribly sad. lots of love to the family.

- - june11 said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    8:25 pm
Such a tragic loss of life, and such a mystery what caused the bookcase to fall.
The only thing I can think of is a lot of bookcases shelves are deep in height not from the front of the shelf to the back. That is why some companies advise that they be anchored to a wall. The same applies to entertainment units.
Sympathy to the little angel’s parents and other family members.

- - mom91814 said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    8:11 pm
May his soul rest in peace and my sympathy to his family

- - mom64356 said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    4:49 pm
When I saw the news, my thoughts were that he was trying to climb the cupboard. So sad for the family who have lost a beautiful boy and will never really understand exactly what happened!

- - nealsq said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    3:05 pm
how sad, deepest sympathy to the loved ones

- - BellaB said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    2:15 pm
How awful. I’m so sorry for the family.

- - mom81879 said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    12:49 pm
Oh no! Just goes to show, no matter how much of a close eye you keep on your kids to keep them safe, it’s just near impossible

- - mom112217 said
  - 24 Aug 2016
    12:45 pm
My heart goes out to the parents,a tragic accident.