8-year-old boy dies after statue falls on him at historic Arizona resort, police say

An 8-year-old boy d!ed last week after a large statue fell on him at a luxury Phoenix resort, authorities said. 

One of the Arizona Biltmore’s outdoor statues fell over and landed on the child, who suffered a serious head injury, the Phoenix Fire Department said.

Around 8:45 a.m. on November 27, responding officers located the injured child and took him to a local hospital in critical condition, the Phoenix Police Department told CNN. 

The boy d!ed from his injuries at the hospital a day later, the department said. The child’s name has not been released.

“There are no signs of foul play at this time,” the police department said, calling the de@th a “tragic accident.” 

The incident is under investigation and authorities do not know why the statue fell or how the boy was struck by it.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the family’s loss and extend our heartfelt condolences. We wish them peace and respect their right to privacy during this difficult time,” the Arizona Biltmore told CNN in a statement. “Our commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for our guests is paramount and we continue to cooperate fully with all authorities investigating this incident.”

The piece that fell was one of 19 “solemn sprite” statues – which were gifted to the Arizona Biltmore in 1985 – designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and artist Alfonso Ianelli in 1914 and were originally created for the Midway Gardens in Chicago, according to the resort’s website. 

The “guardian” statues depict mythological beings that represent the building blocks of nature, according to the website. 

Broken pieces from the large fallen statue were scattered around the lawn outside the resort, video from the scene showed. 

The statue was made of concrete.