The wall partially collapsed while the boy was climbing on it

It is believed he was climbing on a brick archway at his home in the Beechmount area just after 1500 BST, soon after he came back from school.

The structure partially collapsed and the boy fell. Neighbours were alerted by the screams of other children.

A number of people stayed with the boy until an ambulance arrived, but he died. The area was cordoned off while police examined the scene.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Tom Hartley said it was a terrible tragedy for the family and the community.

"In an area in like this where you have a sense of neighbours who know each other for years, with streets full of children, it's a sense of very strong community spirit," he said.

"And neighbours are very, very distressed at the news of what has taken place here this afternoon."