Volunteer injured after hammer hits his head in Kerala Junior Athletics Championships

Abheel Johnson, a Plus One student of St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, suffered serious head injuries after a hammer hit his head in the ongoing Kerala State Junior Athletics Championships on Friday in Pala. The 17-year-old has been admitted to the ICU of Kottayam Medical College and underwent surgery the same day for around eight hours.

The javelin and hammer throw events were being held simultaneously on the same ground at the same time according to media reports. Abheel was registered as a volunteer for the event and went into the field to pick up the javelins, which the participants had used previously. While doing so, a hammer throw contestant launched a hammer from the opposite end resulting in the 3kg iron ball hitting his head.

The police were vigilant and filed a case on the organizers of the event as soon as they got the information. The organizers, however, have denied these allegations. An official of Pala Police was quoted as saying to News Minute:

Section 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code has been charged against the organisers. We are probing and if needed, will charge case against specific persons.

In the aftermath of the grave injury of Abheel, the events scheduled on Saturday and Sunday have been postponed. Abheel, meanwhile, has been put under ventilator after surgery and kept under observation for 48 hours.