TRAGEDY: 11-yr-old boy accidentally hanged himself trying to play a prank on his father and brother

A schoolboy accidentally hanged himself while trying to play a prank on his brother and father.

Brad Rothwell, 11, was trying to trick his father, Bryn, and brother, Brett, when they returned from running errands but the game went tragically wrong.

As they entered his bedroom at the family home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, they found him tied to his bunk bed by his school tie and unresponsive.

They dialled 999 but despite efforts to revive him with CPR, and the attentions of paramedics, Brad was pronounced dead at the scene.

Coroner Alan Walsh heard evidence that the 'model pupil' would often play pranks on his brother and father and upload the videos to YouTube.

Police examined Brad’s laptop and phone and found no suicidal notes or evidence of planning and researching to take his own life.

Coroner Alan Walsh ruled that Brad's death was accidental.

Pathologist Dr Jonathan Pearson confirmed the cause of death as hanging and told the family that a person can die in that way even if their feet are touching the ground.

He said: 'Sometimes people don’t understand how quickly they can lose control of the situation - it can be seconds before they lose consciousness.'

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner described the Brad’s death as a prank gone wrong.

May His Soul Rest In Peace