AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ice hockey fan who had gone to watch a match in northern France with his father died Sunday after he was hit in the head by a puck that flew into the stands.
The freak tragedy occurred some three minutes before the end of the match in Dunkirk on Saturday evening, when a player hit the puck — a rubber disk — towards the end of the rink and a teammate then diverted it, sending it into the stands.
Hugo, who was with his father, was hit on the ear and suffered cardiac arrest. Rescue workers on site were able to revive him, but he died Sunday of his injuries in hospital.
A puck weighs around 170 grammes (six ounces) and can travel at more than 180 kilometres an hour (112 miles per hour) when hit during a hockey match.
“It’s hard. Everyone knows each other, everyone knows the kid,” said Dunkirk Mayor Patrice Vergriete.
On Sunday afternoon, some 400 people — including a lot of children — gathered in front of the ice skating rink to lay flowers.
A probe has been opened to determine why the accident happened, but the rink was built to the required standards, Vergriete said.
This type of accident is extremely rare, and has never happened before in France.
But in north America where the sport is extremely popular, there have been several such tragedies.
The latest occurred in 2002 when Brittanie Cecil, 13, was killed when a puck was deflected into the stands in Ohio.
Jesus poor kid :(
RIP little man……
From when you get out of bed in the morning ,
nobody knows what that day has in store for you…
Tom is there any articles that you dont comment on?
Show some respect
Unfortunately freak accidents happen, I feel for the family……….
Tragic, poor child.
Aren’t the crowd behind plastic shields at these games?
The puck was deflected over the shields. Here’s the dimensions from nhl.com Affixed to the boards and extending vertically shall be approved safety glass extending eight feet (8’) above the boards at each end of the rink and not less than five feet (5’) along both sides of the rink. The glass and gear to hold them in position shall be properly padded or protected. Protective glass shall be required in front of the penalty benches to provide for the safety of the players on and off the ice. All equipment used to hold the glass or screens in position shall be mounted on the boards on the side away from the playing surface.
Nope, he was standing in the area where there was no plexi screen.
so sad, RIP
Poor family but the players involved also.
Poor family :(
Was with my daughter in Hill16 for All Ireland Cork V KK 2005!
Kk were pucking around at this end and an errand ball flew towards us and struck
Kate (12). Down like a sop and then crowd were great, carried her over their heads to St J A and they took over. Alls well now , but crazy moment scared shi…
Cork Lost…..
Does it say his father died from a cardiac arrest as well?
No, I miss read it. Ignore that
RIP