Fourteen children have been arrested following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy who fell through a roof during a fire at an industrial unit in Gateshead.

The blaze broke out at Fairfield Industrial Park in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead on Friday evening, 2 May 2025.

According to early reports, the group of boys and girls had been at the disused site when the fire started.
It is understood that Layton Carr, the 14-year-old boy who later died, climbed onto the roof of the building while the others were still at the scene.

When police arrived in response to the blaze, the group reportedly fled.
Tragically, Layton is believed to have fallen through the weakened roof into the fire below as the structure gave way.

Emergency services extinguished the fire, but Layton’s body was later found during a search of the scene.
His family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers.

Fourteen Children Arrested

Northumbria Police confirmed that 11 boys and 3 girls, all aged between 11 and 14 years old, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
They remain in police custody as investigations continue.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins described the death as a deeply “heartbreaking incident” and reiterated the need for the public to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.

A large police cordon remains in place around the industrial site as forensic teams continue to examine the scene.

Authorities are urging anyone with information or video footage of the incident to come forward to assist the investigation.