First picture of boy, 14, who ‘fell to his death after climbing up funfair ride’

A teenager who died in a tragic accident after he was said to have snuck into a funfair with some friends has been identified.

Mackenzie Croxford-Cook, 14, was found dead on Wednesday morning at the fair in Pencester Park in Dover, Kent.

The rides had not even opened to the public yet. Mackenzie and a group of six friends climbed the park’s fence to get in the night before, locals have said.

While inside, Mackenzie is believed to have scaled the ‘Body Count’ ride while his mates watched.

They reportedly begged Mackenzie to come down but he continued the climb to the top and then ‘lost his footing’ and fell.

Paramedics were called to the park but Mackenzie was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends, family and other loved ones have since left tributes of balloons, flowers, photos and letters pinned to a bus shelter near the fair.

One tribute said the boy was ‘always there to make people smile’.

It added: ‘I’m going to miss your smile… I will never forget you.’

A local quoted by MailOnline, Catherine Dennison, 75, said: ‘It’s so awful. I feel so sorry for his mother, and his father, and his friends who saw it.’

Police previously said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Forrest Amusements, which runs the fair, decided to close on Wednesday ‘out of respect for the family’.

The company said yesterday: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic incident which occurred this morning at one of our funfair events in Pencaster Gardens, Dover.

‘Kent Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

‘The Health and Safety Executive has attended the scene along with the emergency services.’

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