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Touchline issue 24 | September 2016 | 29
FREAK ACCIDENT KILLS BOY WHILST
WATCHING BROTHER PLAY FOOTBALL
A boy of 12 died in freak accident while watching a football
match when his brother tackled an opponent and sent a metal
peg - which was holding down a FA ‘Respect’ banner - flying 30
yards into his head.
Oliver Croker was killed by a ‘metal spike’ that was catapulted
100 ft into his head when his brother hit a pitch-side barrier.
Oliver had been watching the match when Liam Hole and
another player ploughed into a Respect banner in a tackle, an
inquest heard.
A metal peg attached to string that held the banner down
to the ground was then launched towards Oliver in a ‘freak
accident’ that left him with fatal injuries.
Mr Hole had come on as a substitute in a cup game between
his Bampton side and Bradninch in mid-Devon last September.
His two young brothers including Oliver were ‘sat behind the
rope’ about a metre behind, sitting on the grass.
Jeremy Pritchard from Mid Devon Council Environmental
Health told the coroner that the anchor point from the fixing
‘flew through the air and penetrated his head’ following the
challenge. He said: ‘The barrier is part of the FA Respect
Campaign which began in the 2008-9 season and was used in
all levels of football.’
In seven years, during which the banner has been compulsory,
there had been no similar incidents, he said. Mr Pritchard said
the steel ground anchor ‘may have been dislodged in an earlier
challenge’ during the match.
After the accident, Oliver was taken to hospital but died two
days later.
CARNAGE AS SCOTTISH FAIRGROUND
ROLLERCOASTER DERAILS.
Eight children and two adults have been injured after a
rollercoaster derailed and reportedly plunged 30ft to the
ground in front of horrified onlookers at a Scottish theme park.
Eyewitnesses claimed the carriage smashed into a toddlers’
ride when it hit the ground at M&D’s theme park in Motherwell,
near Glasgow.
All ten injured were taken to hospital for treatment. Three of
the children were in a serious condition, including a 12-year-
old girl who suffered serious head injuries in the accident.
Children were trapped in the wreckage, while a picture of a
set of wheels on the ground suggest they had ‘flown off’ the
carriage.
BOXING DEATHS SPARK QUEENSLAND
GOVERNMENT INQUIRY INTO SAFETY
OF COMBAT SPORTS
The Queensland Government has announced a parliamentary
inquiry will investigate how to improve the safety of combat
sports in the state, after the deaths of two young male boxers
in the past five years.
Unlike every other state, Queensland and the Northern
Territory do not regulate combat sports.
Treasurer and Sports Minister Curtis Pitt said the inquiry would
look into whether it was safe for self-regulation to continue.
“We’re talking about some things that are not only self-
regulated but essentially unregulated,” Mr Pitt said.
In March, 2015, Toowoomba boxer Brayden Smith collapsed
after a 12-round professional fight against Filipino John
Moralde.
Two days later his life support was turned off in a Brisbane
Hospital.
In October 2010, amateur boxer Alex Slade, 19, slumped to the
canvas in the fourth round of his fifth fight in Mackay and died
a week later in hospital.
His mother, Deborah Harris-Macdonald, said the parliamentary
inquiry was welcome, but long overdue.
“I honestly feel that this should go ahead as soon as possible,
definitely to save any more accidents and unfortunate deaths
in boxing,” she said.
Ms Harris-Macdonald said she had no doubt there would be
another fatality unless the sport was better controlled.
“I’m just hoping that people will realise that combat sports like
this are not a safe sport for any child or anybody to do,” she
said.
Sports lawyer Tim Fuller, who was part of consultations with
the Queensland government after Alex Slade’s death, said
Queensland must come into line with other states and regulate
boxing by legislation.
“The idea that self regulation has been successful inQueensland
I think is a nonsense,” he said.
“Many other people — experienced referees, combat fighters,
boxers who’ve come forward with anecdotal evidence — have
suggested that this state is a very concerning environment.
The committee inquiry report is due back to the Queensland
Parliament by December 16.