Ten year old boy dies as airport sign falls on his family in Alabama

A ten-year-old boy has died, with several of his family members injured, after a sign fell on them at Birmingham Airport in Alabama.

Luke Bresette was taken to hospital and pronounced dead on arrival and his mother Heather is in a critical condition.

Two of Luke's siblings are being treated for less serious injuries.

The arrivals and departures sign which fell on the family is estimated to weigh between 150 and 180kg.

Albert Osorio, 46, told the Associated Press that he heard a loud boom as the sign fell followed by the screams of the family and witnesses.

He said that it took him and five others to life the sign.

Osorio added: "The whole thing flipped down on those kids. It took all of us here to stand it up."

Airport spokeswoman Toni Herrera-Bast said staff at the airport didn't know why the sign fell from its position.