Boy, 12, crushed by rusty goalpost
A 12-year-old boy died when a rusty 20-year-old goalpost fell on top of him as he tried to free his foot from the goal net, an inquest has heard.
Casey Breese, from Caersws, near Newtown, was crushed when the heavy goalpost toppled on him at the village recreation ground where he was playing football with friends.
The youngster was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries following the accident on July 29 last year.
The inquest, being held before a jury in Welshpool, heard yesterday that Casey had been playing football as a goalkeeper when his foot got caught in the net.
As he pulled his foot from the net, the metal goalpost came crashing down on to his back. A group of five friends freed him before an ambulance was called.
Powys coroner Mrs Louise Hunt said: "Casey was playing with friends out on the Caersws Recreation Ground using the large full-size metal goalpost.
"At some point he was playing in goal and the goalpost toppled forwards and landed on him.
"He was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by air ambulance but he was pronounced dead there as a result of trauma from crush injuries."
Constable Andrew Jones told the inquest that when he arrived Casey was on a spinal board about to be put into the air ambulance.
He said: "It was evident a goal post had fallen on Casey and friends at the scene confirmed that was the case."
The inquest also heard that no health and safety checks had been carried out on the goalposts - which were so heavy it took up to six men to carry them - and it was unclear whose responsibility they were.
The hearing continues.
