Australia:
TOWNSVILLE Gymnastics Association was yesterday found guilty of a workplace health and safety breach that caused the death of a teenage gymnast.
But the finding has provided little comfort for 19-year-old Michelle Maitland’s grieving family who said it won’t bring her back.
Industrial Court magistrate Ross Mack yesterday handed down his findings, saying the association could have prevented the tragedy had it provided safety mats on the area of floor Ms Maitland had struck her head on when she fell after failing to land properly in the designated area on August 18 last year.
read more – Gym club found guilty
She fell from a TumblTrak and hit her head on concrete. A tragedy.
The club subsequently covered the concrete with matting, but it’s too late now for Michelle. The only tiny upside is that this precedence might help ensure that the rest of the clubs world wide will not have any exposed concrete anywhere near a trampoline device.
Recall the death of coach Jon McCurdy who hit concrete at the bottom of a 6ft foam pit.
No concrete anywhere near a trampoline! That’s the standard.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 