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at risk
16 | Touchline issue 23 | April 2016
TEENAGER KILLED IN HORSE TRIALS
ACCIDENT
Olivia Inglis, a 17-year-old rising equestrian star was competing
in a horse riding competition in the New South Wales Hunter
Valley when she was tragically crushed to death by her horse.
The horse, Coriolanus, tripped after catching his knee on a fence
less than halfway into the cross-country course of the Scone
Horse Trials. An on-course paramedic and doctor rushed to
save Olivia but she could not be revived. The accident occurred
when her horse got into trouble during a combination jump and
flipped.
The event was subsequently cancelled.
Olivia’s family afterwards confirmed that Coriolanus, the “much
loved” family horse had to be euthanised due to the catastrophic
injuries sustained in the accident.
The Inglis family are well known in the world of horseracing
and breeding, operating the leading bloodstock company which
carries their name.
Eventing is a discipline which involves dressage, cross country
and show jumping.
FRENCH DAREDEVIL FALLS TO DEATH
WHILE PREPARING FOR TIGHTROPE
STUNT
A French daredevil known for aerial stunts has fallen to his
death while preparing for a dangerous tightrope walk between
two hot air balloons.
Tancrède Melet, 32, fell while getting ready to perform the risky
stunt in Drôme, southern France. He was on the ground holding
a hot air balloon when it suddenly took off and he was unable
to disentangle himself from the line. He fell 20 metres to the
ground.
Melet, was taking part in a performance art project when the
accident happened.
Melet was well known in extreme sports and had appeared
in adverts, videos, live shows and lectures. He was part of
aerobatic company the Flying Frenchies.
The Flying Frenchies said in a statement: “He was one of the best
in Base jump, highline, wingsuit and other air sports. He was
also a climber and a high-level sportsman. He and his friends
were seen as the pioneers of the skyline.”
FATHER CONCERNED THAT SYNTHETIC
PITCH LINKED TO SON'S CANCER
A UK father wants the government to review the use of
synthetic 3G pitches after claiming rubber pellets on the
surface contributed to his son's cancer.
Nigel Maguire from Darlington says son Lewis, 18, has
Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to the 'crumb
rubber' on the surface which gives it more bounce. The
pitches have a blend of grass-like fibres attached to a special
backing with a mix of sand and/or rubber brushed in.
Rubber pellets, often made from used car tyres, can contain
toxic chemicals.
The Football Association says there are 500 3G pitches in
England and added it was "aware of concerns".
An FA spokesperson said it would continue to "monitor
industry research" but it is understood the governing body is
comfortable with current health guidelines.
The surfaces have been widely introduced in the UK because
they can be used continuously in bad weather, avoiding
postponements throughout winter, particularly at grassroots
level. The pitches are also used by 12 of 42 clubs in the top
four leagues in Scottish football, two Premiership rugby
union teams and rugby league team Widnes Vikings, who
also share the pitch with Women's Super League teams
Liverpool Ladies and Everton Ladies.
The Sports and Play Construction Association, which is
the UK trade organisation for the sports and play facility
construction industry, said there were "numerous research
studies carried out worldwide" and "the current consensus
is that the rubber crumb poses no significant health risk".
But after claiming that a $2m (£1.38m) review had begun in
the United States, Maguire, a former chief executive of NHS
Cumbria, says he wants a similar level of testing in the UK
and believes football authorities should stop building 3G
pitches until proper research had been carried out.
He says that as a goalkeeper, his son was more exposed
to the rubber crumb than outfield players, and had similar
concerns for rugby players.