The Police Complaints Authority is investigating the death of a 13-year-old boy who died after he was chased by police in Harold Hill at the weekend.

The boy, from Harold Hill, was found by police in a sunken sky light on the roof of a building at an industrial estate after they were called to the scene following a car crash.

The police received a 'non priority' call to the car park off Briar Road, Harold HIll, at 2pm on Saturday after a member of the public had reported two young males running off. Their car, a white Ford Fiesta, had been involved in a collision with another vehicle.

When the police arrived at 3pm, they spotted a youth in the front passenger seat of the Fiesta who fled to the nearby industrial estate when he saw the officers approaching him. Police say at this stage there is nothing to link him with the earlier incident.

A police helicopter was called in and the crew's information was used to guide police in their search of a factory site. It was while searching the roof area that the teenager was found.

Officers performed emergency first aid due to his condition before he was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, by ambulance and placed on a life support machine.

However, following consultation with his family, medical staff at the hospital switched off the life support machine and he died at 9.20am on Monday, December 11.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The boy was 13 and lived locally. At the request of his family, we are not naming him at this stage. A family liaison officer has been appointed."

A post mortem took place at Oldchurch Hospital mortuary, Romford, on Monday but no details have been released by the coroner. An inquest will be held.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman added: "The matter was initially being investigated by the MPS Internal Investigations Command, and the enquiry has since been taken over by the Police Complaints Authority."

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