UPDATE: Boy, 2, who died in Blackburn mall named by police

Furqan Israr Ahmed was found unresponsive in his push chair and did not regain consciousness despite sustained efforts of staff from the Mall, paramedics and hospital staff.

Detective Inspector Tim McDermott said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident and our thoughts are with Furqan’s family.

“At this stage the cause of Furqan’s death is unexplained and we will work with the family, the coroner and our health care colleagues to establish the circumstances.

“This incident is not being treated as suspicious and specialist officers are helping to support Furqan’s parents at this time. They have asked to be left alone so they can grieve in peace.”

Shops were cordoned off as police and paramedics were called to The Mall Blackburn shortly after 2pm yesterday.

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The toddler was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital but last night police confirmed he had died.

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service, said: “We were alerted at 2.06pm that a two-year-old boy had collapsed at the shopping centre.

“A rapid response vehicle and two ambulances were sent to the scene.”

Last night, a police spokesman said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a two-year-old boy at The Mall Blackburn.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious. We are offering support to the boy’s family at this sad time.”

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall Blackburn, said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the little boy who died after being taken to hospital from The Mall Blackburn on Thursday.

“We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with everyone involved at this terrible time.”

The incident happened in the area close to Boots Chemists.

Police cordoned off part of the shopping area from close to Espresso Coffee and Ditsch at one end and to the British Heart Foundation and the EE shop at the other.

Staff and customers appeared to have been cleared from some shops.

Those in the centre at the time spoke of their shock.

Dean of Blackburn Christopher Armstrong was shopping in the market below The Mall shortly after the incident.

He said: “It’s very, very sad.

“My sympathy goes out to the child, the parents and relatives and those who were out shopping there when it happened.

“This sort of thing happens all the time everywhere, but when it happens so close to you it really touches you.”

Mall shopworker Brian Wade said: “I heard from staff nearby that a child collapsed and passed away outside the Pound Bakery. It’s very tragic.”

Joyce Clamp, 78, was shopping in The Mall when the incident happened.

She said: “I wanted to go up the corridor but it was sealed off. I asked why.

“One of the staff said someone was very poorly. I asked how poorly and they said: ‘Very poorly’.

“It is devastating, really upsetting.”