AN inquest has been formally opened into the death of an 11-year-old boy, described by his family as being ‘beautiful and talented’.

Evan Rothwell, of Chester, died at Alder Hey Hospital on November 16 aged just 11.

He was struck by a grey Nissan Qashqai car outside of Kings School in Chester at around 5.12pm on November 12.

Police and paramedics quickly attended, with Evan being taken to Alder Hey Hospital via air ambulance after initial treatment at the scene.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of those involved, he passed away in hospital on November 16.

Warrington Coroner’s Court heard on Wednesday that Evan was involved in a road traffic collision as a pedestrian hit by a car, suffering multiple injuries and later passing away in hospital.

His identity was confirmed by his parents to hospital staff on November 16

The reason for an inquest being listed was the cause of death being ‘unnatural’.

“It is requested that an inquest be opened and adjourned to allow for further work to be completed,” a coroner officer said.

An internal case review by the coroner has been listed for January 26, 2025, with an inquest listed for September 9.

Before concluding the brief hearing, Victoria Davies, area coroner for Cheshire, said: “Given the circumstances, this is clearly an unnatural cause of death.

“Therefore, I am going to formally open an inquest into the death of Evan Jacob Sebastian Rothwell and adjourn for further work to be completed for an inquest on September 9, 2025.”

In a tribute in the days following his death, Evan’s family said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm that our beautiful son Evan Rothwell has passed away.

"Evan loved life and used his talents to entertain and bring joy to others.

“He lit up the world around him when he was making friends laugh with jokes and magic tricks, playing cricket with his friends, performing with Ama-sing on Britain’s Got Talent and entertaining audiences as part of the Chester Scout’s Gang Show.

“He made us proud every day. We are shocked and devastated at his loss.

“We would like to thank the emergency services staff and the staff at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for their expertise, care and commitment and most of all for their kindness.

"We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our local community. We really appreciate your love and support.

"The speed limit on the road where Evan was hit is a 40mph limit. This road is outside a school, and we strongly feel that this needs to be lowered to prevent anything like this from happening again."

Evan's head teacher, George Hartley, said: “Evan will be forever remembered as a bright, joyful and fun-loving classmate, with an intellectual curiosity that belied his young years.

“Our thoughts throughout this past week have remained with Evan’s heartbroken family, loved ones and friends.

“This devastating news has shaken our school community to its core and there are immense challenges ahead for our pupils, staff and parents.

“We have drawn great strength from the many messages of support and from the countless tributes being paid to Evan.

“We are united in grief and shock, and we are doing all we can to support each other with compassion and understanding as we face the loss of one of our own.”

Head of Evan’s year, Emily Sherriff, added: “Evan arrived at King’s in September with an enormous smile and a sense of fun that brought joy to everyone he encountered.

“As a King’s Entry Scholar, he showcased an insatiable appetite to learn about the world. In his form, he was a dedicated charity rep who was committed to bringing new ideas and excitement to his tutor group.

“Outside of the classroom, Evan could be found in all areas of school life: belly laughing in Dungeons and Dragons Club, catching up with friends in the library while taking out his latest read, and making a big splash in the swimming pool.

“He was kindness personified, and there has not been a single student who we have encountered over the past week who has not made a comment on the happiness Evan carried with him throughout the school day.

“The way he lived his life – full of wonder and enthusiasm – is something that will stay with us all forever.”

There have been no arrests made in relation to this incident, and Cheshire Police continues to appeal for anyone with information or dashcam footage from around the time of the collision to come forward.

To do so, call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting IML-1961446, or visit cheshire.police.uk/tell-us