Coroner rules death of 17-year-old boy who was pinned by basketball frame a misadventure

The upper and bottom parts of the two poles in the basketball structure had been welded together, and the structure broke at the welded joint, which was the weakest point, the court heard on Friday. 

If both poles of the basketball structure were one complete pole instead of two parts welded together, the breakage, and consequently the accident, would not have occurred, the coroner said. 

Upon reviewing schematics from the manufacturer, the coroner concluded that it was most probable that the poles had been damaged and then repaired by welding. 

The basketball structure on the opposite side of the court did not have similar welding, he noted. 

The coroner could not determine whether the damage and welding occurred before or after the basketball structure was delivered to KAF Resources, the company that was subcontracted to install it. 

According to previous reports, the basketball court had undergone renovations shortly before the accident.

The coroner highlighted that a professional engineer had not been engaged to design any aspect of the renovation works. 

The contract required the reconstruction to be carried out according to a design endorsed by a professional engineer to ensure the basketball court was safe and suitable for use, the coroner’s court previously heard. 

However, the project manager from TMS Alliances, the company awarded the tender for East Coast Town Council repair works, was not aware that a professional engineer was required. The company therefore did not engage one or ensure that KAF Resources did so.

As a result, there were no checks during or after the installation of the basketball structure to ensure that it was structurally sound, Judge Nakhoda said on Friday. 

The police similarly concluded in their investigation report that there had been a failure to properly check the structural integrity of the basketball poles and to engage a professional engineer for the project, the coroner noted. 

CNA has reached out to East Coast Town Council for comment on the coroner’s findings.