First pictures of ‘very small’ schoolboy, 8, who died after being knocked over by burly teenager as they played laser tag
Little Aryan Patel, who was 'very small for his age', cried out in agony as the 6ft teen fell on him at the Megazone arena in Leicester
THE first pictures have emerged of an eight-year-old boy who died playing laser tag after he was knocked over by a teenager.
An inquest heard little Aryan Patel died of a liver injury after he collided heavily with a 6ft teen as he enjoyed a family day out at the Megazone arena in Leicester.
He had been playing in the mixed age session - called Ultimate Rapid Fire - when he was bashed to the floor by the larger boy carrying a laser gun.
An inquest jury heard the teenager fell on top of the slightly-built youngster who screamed in pain and was found by his dad writhing in agony on the floor on April 7.
Aryan - who was described as being very small for his age - was groaning and appeared to be having a fit as he was carried to the reception area and laid on a sofa.
An ambulance crew took him to the Leicester Royal Infirmary but he died 35 minutes later after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Paediatric accident and emergency consultant Dr Rachel Rowlands told the inquest: "Once a child goes into cardiac arrest it is very rare that you can get them back.
"Normally a cardiac arrest is the last thing to happen to a child when they are dying."
Leicestershire Coroner Lydia Brown told the jury of seven men and four women that Aryan, who suffered from sickle cell anaemia, had been taken to Megazone with his brother after a successful routine appointment at the hospital earlier in the day.
He was playing in the third game of the session at the arena, which was lit by UV light and disco lights and featured dry ice and loud music.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the hearing he was with a group celebrating a friend's birthday at the time.
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He said: "I came jogging down a ramp and we collided.
"He was so small I could not see him over the top of my laser gun.
"I fell on top of him and he started screaming."
The youth said he got up as quickly as he could and people came to Aryan's aid straight away.
Arena supervisor Laura Ackton said she called the ambulance and evacuated the arena floor.
She said all players had been given a safety briefing before the session which started at 5pm and was due to finish at 8pm.
General manager Kimberley Senkbeil-Newley said the mixed sessions were open to players aged six and above and who were more than 3ft 9in tall.
She said they were popular with families and there were strict rules governing behaviour - including a ban on running and physical contact.
People who breached rules were warned and could be ejected if they did not modify their behaviour.
Pathologist Roger Malcomson said Aryan was very small for his age and he had suffered a severe liver injury in the collision which had caused major blood loss.
He said Aryan's spleen was grossly enlarged because of his sickle cell anaemia but this did not contribute to his death.
The jury is expected to return its verdict today at Leicester Town Hall.
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