(COMTEX) B: Death Extreme sports enthusiast killed in catapult accident
LONDON, Nov 25, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A member of a
dangerous-sports club was killed in a human catapult stunt, police said Monday.
Police said the 28-year-old Oxford University student, a Bulgarian, was injured
Sunday in Woolavington, southwestern England, and died at a nearby hospital
several hours later.
The man, who has not been identified, was a member of the Oxford Stunt Factory,
an unofficial university club that has arranged stunts for films including the
James Bond thriller "Goldeneye."
Witnesses said the man was hurled into the air by a catapult but missed the
safety net and hit the ground.
"I saw the accident but it is impossible to say what happened. He missed the
landing by falling short of the net. He didn't fly far enough and hit the
ground," said David Aitkenhead, who operates the catapult, a replica of a
medieval trebuchet.
He said five people had used the equipment earlier in the day.
"Whatever went wrong was something which we haven't come across before. It was
nothing obvious and there appeared to be no mechanical failure," Aitkenhead
said.
Police and Health and Safety Executive investigators said they were
investigating.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
-0-
APO Priority=r
(PROFILE
(WS SL:BC-EU-GEN--Britain-Catapult Death; CT:i;
(REG:EURO;)
(REG:BRIT;)
(REG:SCAN;)
(REG:MEST;)
(REG:AFRI;)
(REG:INDI;)
(REG:ASIA;)
(REG:ENGL;)
(LANG:ENGLISH;))
)
KEYWORD: LONDON
(jl-rb)
*** end of story *** |
