A five-year-old boy has died after he was crushed by a parking meter outside a museum in Western Australia last week.

The boy was hospitalised in a critical condition on Wednesday, January 16, after he was hit by a parking meter in a courtyard of the Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre, about 175km south of Perth.

The City of Bunbury today confirmed that the child had passed away.

“Our entire organisation is heartbroken and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the young child involved in a tragic incident at a City facility last week,” it said.

It’s understood the boy was hit by a parking meter in a courtyard of the museum.

City officials said their thoughts were with the child’s family, and that they had offered them their support.

“There are no words that will help what we know will have an immense impact on our entire community,” It said.

“We also send thoughts to our own staff who witnessed the incident and who did everything they could in providing immediate assistance.”

St John Ambulance paramedics treated the child at the scene and he was rushed to hospital. He was then airlifted to Perth Children’s Hospital.

The City said they would work with authorities throughout the investigation into the tragic accident.

The Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre will be closed for another week.