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A 17-year-old boy was flown to hospital by helicopter on Wednesday morning after he was hit in the head with a four-kilogram shot put in Kasaoka City.
The boy, a second-year student at Kasaoka Technical High School, was taking measurements for shot put during a PE class in the school courtyard, when he was struck on the forehead. The boy who made the put called out to him to try to warn him, but the boy standing about 8 meters away turned to him and was hit on the forehead. He was rushed to hospital by helicopter, where he is conscious and in a stable condition, police said.
A staff member said 39 students were practicing shot put, long jump and relays for an upcoming sports carnival. Two teachers were supervising the class but both of them were managing and timing the relays at the time of the incident. Police said they are looking into a charge of professional negligence resulting in injury.
© News reports
20 Comments
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pawatan
Slow national news day, eh? I suppose it's better than national news about someone chopping down flowers with an umbrella.
bobbafett
I saw it happen when I was a high school student in Europe. not a pretty sight.
Altria
Outbreak of shot put violence!!!
Just last week there was another story of a girl throwing a shot put at a guy's head.
ratpack
Isn't it commonsense to be watching the shot put if you are doing the measuring?? Perhaps someone else threw their shot put while his was taking the measurement of the throw before. If that was the case..isn't it commonsense "not to" throw the shot put while someone else is still measuring the throw before....which if this is the case the people holding the tape would have run it from where the put landed back through the area where the put was made from. Either way a little commonsense wouldn't have gone astray. Lucky it wasn't a discus or a javalin!!!!
timorborder
Police said they are looking into a charge of professional negligence resulting in injury.
Good. The teachers should swing for this. Despite all the arguments about this being an accident, the fact is that it happens in Japan with some regularity (and I would assume overseas as well). With the shot put, the discuss and any other throwing events, there needs to be somebody in charge and aware of what is happening.
When I was at school, a friend was measuring javelin throws of other classmates. My mate (who I will call John) could throw a javelin with enough force to penetrate a decent-sized gum tree (through and through). I remember that John actually managed to lodge his javelin some 20 meters past the teacher and student who were taking measurements (beating every other throw by some 30 meters). It scared the hell out of one and all, and got the teacher carpeted in the principals office for a "lack of leadership." Of course, it could of had a much grizzlier outcome.
ebisen
I saw this happening myself (I hit someone with a ball similar with a baseball - my throw was 10 meters over the average of others - about 45 meters in total). Ouch - the guy immediately felt to the ground and vomited... Indeed, not a pretty sight.
kokorocloud
Oh my goodness! I hope that boy is okay.
smithinjapan
What was the kid doing? Measuring where he PREDICTED the shot was going to land? Guess he was bang on.
Seriously, though, my callous comment is intended to point to the stupidity of the incident. The person making the shot, the kid 'receiving' it, and most importantly whomever the teacher in charge was were all responsible for being utterly irresponsible, and downright negligent. I hope the kid pulls through without any damage to his noggin', and I hope this kind of thing is not repeated once the staff become complacent again.
Wakarimasen
8 meteres is a pretty good put for high school kids. The thrower has an Olympic future!
Wakarimasen
And the shot in the photo looks guilty as hell.
n3312
An avoidable accident, unless of course the ball flew off-course. But based on the article it's a lack of common sense.
cactusJack
This is not national news. This is just a sensationalist story to trying to convey shock value. Don't read it.
sydenham
i just hope the kid is ok.
smartacus
If you say so, cactusJack. I won't read it.
kirakira25
Ouch! That has got to have hurt!
I agree with what many are saying- negligence resulting in injury. But on the part of the kids as much as the teacher. These were not 7 year olds but 17 year olds. Common sense - if you are in the firing line of a 4kg ball - watch for it. If you are throwing a 4kg ball - watch for people in front of you.
Wakarimasen - you are right. There is a menacing expression on that balls face!
betterdays
from a rough calculation of the projectile motion, the range of the ball was gonna be more than 10m..(unless the victim is very short)The thrower should be well groomed coz he really can throw balls. got a bright future in shot putt
nath
Stupid accident and the teachers should be fired.
animallover
The same thing happened to one of my classmates. The poor boy became half paralysed. Wish you will be fine young boy!!
Fadamor
There was a serious breakdown in the safety procedures. People downrange need to be watching the launchee before the shot is delivered. That should be rule number one for shotput, javelin, and discus.
javnation
Classes in Japanese schools are typically of 40 or so student. When was the last time anyone here tried to manage 40 student? Sure the teachers are responsible for what happens when they are on duty, but there has to be some consideration for the stupidly huge class sizes they are forced to teach.
Re class size. I am referring to my knowledge of class sizes at two schools, one in Akatsutsumi and the other in Machida.