Family heartbroken over 8-year-old's fatal fall through school roof

Justin was afraid of heights and it is not known how and why he was on the roof. Photo / Supplied

A Palmerston North family is heartbroken over losing their "miracle baby" after he fell through the roof of a school building, fracturing his skull.

Eight-year-old Justin Reid was playing with his big brother Lucas and several friends on Saturday at Cloverlea School when he gained access to the roof of a school building.

His aunt Kim Murphy said it wasn't clear how Justin ended up on the roof.

But being little, the family assumed he had been given a boost by one of the other kids.

"Apparently some other teenagers were on the roof too, so we assumed he was coaxed up there."

Shortly after 4pm, Justin fell through a Perspex strip in the corrugated iron roof and landed on his head.

Realising his little brother was unconscious, Lucas, 10, called for help. A St John ambulance crew arrived at the scene within 10 minutes, a spokewoman said, and he was rushed to Palmerston North Hospial in a critical condition.

"He was brought to A&E straight away and they ran some scans," Murphy told the Herald.

"It was clear pretty quickly how serious the injuries were."

The little boy, who was described by his aunty as a "loving, witty" kid, was put on life support at Palmerston North Hospital's intensive care unit.

With a fractured scull and severe brain injuries, the family could only hope he would pull through.

But when he was pulled out of sedation yesterday to enable doctors to see how his brain was reacting to the trauma, the family was told he was brain dead. They made the decision to turn off life support yesterday afternoon.

Justin with his niece Azariah, the daughter of his eldest brother Josh. PHOTO / Supplied

His aunt said the circumstances around the fall seemed out of character for Justin, who was afraid of heights.

Justin and Lucas often went to Cloverlea to play on their scooters on a bike track at the school with other children. The boy was full of life, she said, but wasn't exactly a dare devil.

"He was just a regular 8-year-old boy."

Murphy said Justin was the youngest of five.

His oldest brother Josh was 19, who had a young daughter, Azariah, who Justin was very fond of. He loved Black Ops "even though he shouldn't have been playing", and he loved cars.

Justin was very close to his four siblings, and loved his mum, Murphy's sister Angela.

His aunty said Justin's favourite colour was green and he lit up when he was around music.

"He was very cheeky, very cute and very loved."

Justin's mum Angela Reid is separated from his father, Tony, but the pair are still very amicable.

Angela Reid called Justin, 8, her "miracle child" as she fell pregnant with him after having her tubes tied. Photo / Supplied

Angela Reid called Justin her miracle baby because she had her fallopian tubes tied after having four children. Shortly after this, she became pregnant with Justin, Murphy said.

The family was still at hospital last night saying their farewells.

Murphy described it as devastating to watch her sister, nieces and nephews cope with the outcome of an "innocent decision" gone wrong.

"I pray none of my friends or other family ever have to go through something similar," she said.

"It can all change in a moment."

Murphy also wanted to thank the staff at Palmerston North Hospital for looking after Justin and helping her sister's family through the incident.

"He was a very loved little boy - he still is."

Cloverlea School principal Leiana Lambert told the Herald the school's thoughts and hearts went out to Justin's family and friends.

"The Board are making sure that we support the family, the staff, the students and the Cloverlea community as best as we can at this difficult time.

"We are following the advice and guidance from the Ministry of Education traumatic incident team and will be taking each day as it comes.

"We have a long journey ahead and will do the best we can to get through this tragic accident."