Report Says 10-Year-Old Boy’s Death in Manhole Fall Could Have Been Prevented
Authorities say the death of 10-year-old Shéa Ryan in Glasgow, Scotland, could have been avoided, according to an official investigation.
On July 16, 2020, sometime between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., Shéa fell into an open manhole at a construction site. A police report released on July 30, 2025, says he died from a head injury and drowning.
The report explains that Shéa and a group of children went into the construction site and found the open manhole with a ladder inside. Shéa began to climb down but slipped and fell about 20 feet to the bottom.
The other children called for him, but when he didn’t respond, they ran for help. Shéa’s stepfather and a neighbor climbed down to find him lying in several feet of water, unresponsive. Emergency crews tried to revive him, but he was later pronounced dead at a hospital at 11:07 p.m.
At the time, the site was in the process of being transferred from Amey Black & Veatch (ABV) to RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited (RJM). Investigators say ABV failed to warn RJM about safety risks at the site and didn’t take enough steps to stop people from entering during the handover.
The report also says ABV workers had removed a heavy bag covering the manhole just days before the accident but didn’t tell RJM. Previous incidents of trespassing — some involving children — were also not shared with the new company.
Police say better safety checks and security measures by both companies could have stopped the accident.
Sheriff Stuart Reid’s report came from a fatal accident inquiry (FAI), which investigates the facts of a death to prevent similar tragedies in the future. It is not meant to assign legal blame.
Andy Shanks, who leads the Procurator Fiscal’s fatality investigations, said Shéa’s death caused “significant public concern” and expressed sympathy to his family.
In 2023, RJM was fined about $1.2 million for failing to secure the site.
