A four-year-old boy has been crushed to death after a 450lb iron gate fell on him while he played football on a family holiday in italy 

Angelo Quirino, from Manchester, was visiting family near Rome when the freak accident happened on Saturday.

Reports suggest the youngster was playing with his brother when the tragedy occurred.

His uncle and neighbours near the property they had hired in Anzio, 40 miles south of the capital, rushed to help after hearing screams, but found him unconscious. The Manchester Evening News reports the youngster sustained injuries to his collarbone and head.

An air ambulance arrived at the scene and medics tried to resuscitate the youngster for more than 45 minutes, but to no avail.  

Italian media have suggested the boy was with his mother, brother and little sister and his father has flown out from Manchester after learning the news. 

Police immediately cordoned off their family's holiday villa and an investigation has since been launched to find out how the 200kg - 450lb - gate fell on him.