By James Holt,Ryan Fahey

Copyright manchestereveningnews

The family of a little boy who tragically died after a gravestone fell on him at a cemetery are calling for a change in the law. Eli Testa was just four-years-old when he died after the cross on top of a gravestone at Rawtenstall Cemetery fell on top of him on July 5. The youngster was rushed to hospital but later passed away from his injuries. Earlier this year, a coroner said the suspected cause of death was a traumatic head injury. Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here Now, his heartbroken parents are campaigning for gravestones in cemeteries across the country to be laid flat and secured to the ground, alongside mandatory regular checks on gravestones across the country, reports the Mirror. A UK Parliamentary petition has already received more than 1,000 signatures in support of the change. It calls for clearer rules to be set out in legislation about how headstones are safety checked and the frequency of these checks. Dad Thomas Testa said he hoped any future law would be named ‘Eli’s Law’, in memory of him son. He said: “This is an issue that will only get worse over time. Most cemeteries only started getting large headstones when the Industrial Revolution began. “These headstones are now nearly 200 years old without adequate legislation and safety checks this kind of horrific incident will only become more common.” The heartbroken father said he and his partner had been up to Glasgow to meet with the family of Ciaran Williamson, an eight-year-old boy who was crushed by a gravestone back in May 2015. Following a fatal accident inquiry in Scotland which found the boy would not have died had Glasgow City Council followed health and safety guidelines, the family received a ‘six-figure’ out of court settlement. Dad Thomas added: “Unfortunately the UK government didn’t think to check if this was a national issue, if they did, Eli might still be here. We are working with all relevant parties to ensure that cemeteries are a safe place to visit.” An inquest into his death at Preston Coroners’ Court in July laid out the facts of the case. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE The coroner said: “Eli was in a cemetery with his great-grandmother when a stone cross on top of a grave came loose and fell on top of him causing injuries which sadly resulted in his death. An ambulance was called and full advanced life support was started at the scene and he was transported to the hospital. “Given the nature of the injuries and that there was a known cause of his death at that time he was subject to a post-mortem CT scan [as opposed to a full post-mortem examination]. The cause of death is likely to be recorded as a traumatic head injury. That will be a matter for the coroner at the final hearing. “Police have confirmed there is no longer any active police investigation. There was no reason to suspect there was any suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement at the time. The HSE have been notified.” — Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That’s why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable , highlighting the best of what we do – bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don’t miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street . If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you’ll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@men-news.co.uk or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.