A young boy, aged 8, tragically passed away in Arizona after being struck by a large concrete statue that fell at a historic hotel, according to authorities.
Emergency responders arrived at the Arizona Biltmore resort on November 27 at approximately 9 a.m. following reports of an injured child at the hotel situated northeast of downtown Phoenix.
The boy was quickly taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead the following day. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office identified complications from blunt force trauma to the head as the main cause of death.
Capt. Todd Keller of the Phoenix Fire Department stated that a section of the concrete statue fell on the boy, causing a head injury. The cause of the statue’s fall and whether the child was accompanied by a parent or guardian remain unknown. Authorities indicated that foul play was not suspected.
“We are profoundly saddened by the incident that transpired at the hotel earlier this morning,” the hotel conveyed in a statement to The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. “The safety and security of our guests is our highest priority, and our thoughts are with the family affected by the events of today.”
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation: ‘We are deeply saddened’ The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which aims to preserve Wright’s legacy and educate the public on the architect’s influence, expressed sorrow over the child’s death at the Arizona Biltmore, a venue inspired by Wright’s design.
“The news regarding the child’s death at the Biltmore is extremely heartbreaking,” stated Henry Hendrix, chief marketing officer for the foundation, in a statement. “We are truly saddened by this tragic incident, and our deepest sympathies go out to the family during this incredibly challenging time.”
The Arizona Biltmore, constructed in 1929, is often referred to as “The Jewel of the Desert” and boasts a rich and storied history.
“Please understand that we share in the grief of this moment and hold everyone impacted close in our thoughts as they face this unimaginable loss,” the statement added.
The statue that struck the boy was a representation of a “sprite,” symbolizing a mythical creature intended to guard the land. As indicated on the Arizona Biltmore’s website, the property features 19 sprite statues.
Hendrix noted in his statement that the sprites at the Biltmore are replicas of designs from Wright’s Midway Gardens project in Chicago, which was built in 1914 and torn down in 1929. The statues present at the Biltmore were crafted in the mid-1980s and donated to the Biltmore in 1988. They are not classified as historic artifacts and do not fall under the category of historic preservation.
