An 8-year-old boy died after a “Guardian” statue at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore hotel fell and crushed him last week, authorities said.
On November 27, around 9 am, a child was hit by concrete that fell outside the hotel. He suffered severe head injuries and died a day later at an area hospital, according to Phoenix police and local reports.
The police department described the boy’s death as a “tragic accident” and said there was no indication of foul play at this time, although it was unknown why the statue fell.
According to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner, his primary cause of death was complications of blunt force trauma to the head. told the Arizona Republic.
The identity of the victim youth was not revealed.
The statue that fell was one of 19 “serious sprite” statues, which were replicas of pieces originally created in 1914 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and artist Alfonso Iannelli. Replicas were given to the Arizona Biltmore in the 1980s. According to the hotel’s website.
The website says the mythological “guardian” statues are meant to “watch over the land upon which Biltmore stands”.
The hotel, which opened in 1929, said in a statement that its “top priority” is the safety of guests.
“Our thoughts are with the families affected by today’s events,” the statement said. According to KPNX.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation also expressed grief over the boy’s death.
“The news of the child’s passing at Biltmore is truly heartbreaking,” Henry Hendrix, the foundation’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement. According to the Arizona Republic.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family during this unimaginably difficult time.”
(TagstoTranslate)US News(T)Arizona(T)Death(T)Bizarre Accidents(T)Luxury Hotels
