Coroner presents Prevention of Future Deaths Report after death of Plymstock seven-year-old

Alfie Tollett, 7, was killed outside Plmstock Albion Rugby Football Club in February 2023. 

Deborah Archer, assistant coroner, Plymouth and Torbay, concluded the inquest on 16 August 2024, ruling his death an accident.

Alfie Tollett - credit Devon and Cornwall Police 

She also recommended changes to be made by Jaguar Land Rover following the death.  

In the report, the coroner reported that on 19 February 2023, the Tollett family attended Plymstock Albion Rugby Football club to watch their eldest son play in a friendly training match against Exmouth RFC. 

The family parked their car in front of a VW van. They went to watch the game and Alfie was playing football with other children next to the pitches. When they finished, Mr Tollett and his two older sons returned to the car to change their shoes before entering the clubhouse. 

It was then that the driver of a Jaguar iPace electric SUV attempted to park behind the VW van. The driver attempted to put the car into reverse, but instead accelerated forwards into the van.

The report states: "[The driver of the Jaguar] used his left hand to select the reverse button to straighten the vehicle up. [He] did not look down at the buttons on the centre console and relied on feel to select reverse. He looked to his left in preparation to reverse and pressed the accelerator.

"The Jaguar moved forwards, as reverse had not been selected, failed to notice that the reversing warning alarm had not engaged and collided with the rear of the white VW van causing damage. [The driver] did not brake and continued to accelerate pushing the white VW van forwards trapping Alfie between the VW van and his father’s [car].

"Mr Tollett immediately got into his car and moved it forward to release Alfie who fell to the ground. He then went to Alfie’s aid but sadly Alfie died shortly afterwards with the cause of death being given as blunt force traumatic chest injuries." 

There has been no prosecution of the 55-year-old driver as he died of natural causes shortly after the incident. He had been arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, and was later released on police bail.

A team from Jaguar Land Rover were preparing a technical report to assist the police but this was not progressed due to [the driver]’s death.    

The Coroner continued: "During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you."

She listed a number of errors by the driver, including wrongly putting the car in drive, failing to realise that the reversing warning sound had not engaged, driving forwards and continuing to do so for eight to 10 seconds, and failing to brake. 

She continued: "However, these errors occurred as a result of there being no intermediary step within the Jaguar iPace being necessary to put the car into drive / reverse other than pressing a button. In the police officer’s opinion if there had also been a lever or something similar present in the vehicle that needed to be engaged before a button was pressed this may have alerted [the driver] to the fact that he had pushed the incorrect button on the three button console."

Alfie's parents, Stephen and Gemma Tollett, are reported to have said: "There is so much we could say about Alfie, but we just want everyone to know he was our amazing, cheeky, precious little boy who we all miss and love so very much. Alfie’s memory will always be kept going through his two brothers and sister. Keep chasing the Pokémon’s, riding the unicorns, and scoring the goals up there our special Alfie Moo.

"We'd like to thank everyone who has sent kind messages of support for our family since that terrible day. Alfie will be forever in our hearts.

“We thank the Coroner for her findings and the confirmation that she will write to Jaguar Land Rover about whether additional steps can be taken to make this electric car safer.

“We would welcome anything that prevents any other family from having to go through what we have as a family and that includes all manufacturers of electric vehicles to review their control designs in light of this case.

"We have lost our beautiful son Alfie because of what we see as a design flaw and we are passionate for this to never happen again.”

A statement from Jaguar Land Rover to the BBC said: "A spokesperson for JLR said: "We have received correspondence from the coroner and shall be responding in due course. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family of Alfie Tollett, following his accidental death."

Our thoughts are with all Alfie's friends and family.