From the files of http://www.stupidchildren.com/stupid_news_137.html
Student launched from catapult died after missing safety net
The Scottsman | 1 Nov 05
A UNIVERSITY student died after being hurled 100ft through the air by a medieval-style "trebuchet" catapult, an inquest heard yesterday.
Kostydin Yankov, 19, an Oxford University student, suffered multiple injuries and serious spinal damage when he fell short of the safety net.
He was on a day trip with the extreme sports club, The Oxford Stunt Factory, to Bridgwater, Somerset, in November 2002 when tragedy struck.
A jury at Taunton Coroner's Court in Somerset heard that Kostydin - Dino to his friends - was the fifth person to be "fired" by the device on the day of his death. All four people who went before him landed at the nearest end of the safety net.
Oliver Nelkin, a fellow member of the Stunt Factory, said he was "very anxious" about their safety after seeing the previous four land so close to the edge.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Nelkin said: "The first guy to be shot landed on the net, but right on the edge of it. It seemed like he was going far too slowly, too low, to even make it. It looked like there wasn't enough energy to get him there."
Mr Nelkin said other members of the group had commented on how close the others had been to the edge of the net.
"After that jump, I heard other members of the club say that they were very anxious they landed too close to the edge," said Mr Nelkin.
"Dino went out of my view for a short while and then I saw him coming down. He was in a ball and clipped the edge of the net.
"Then I heard a thump and he landed on the ground below. I knew immediately that something had gone wrong."
The machine was designed and built in April 2000 by David Aitkenhead, 46, and Richard Wicks, 34, both founder members of the Dangerous Sports Club. Last year they stood trial for manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court over Dino's death, but were cleared when the judge threw out the case because of a lack of evidence.
The device is based on the trebuchets used in medieval times to hurl rocks and dead animals over castle walls during sieges. It uses a tonne of lead weight to give a see-saw effect and propel volunteers hundreds of feet into the air. Mr Aitkenhead and Mr Wicks charged thrill-seekers £40 a ride at a field in Woolavington, near Bridgwater.
The prototype was built in Mr Aitkenhead's garden in 1998 and tested by Mr Wicks's partner, Stella Young, who broke her pelvis after bouncing out of the net.
She told the hearing yesterday: "This was the prototype which they both made together. I was one of the first people to try it. I bounced into the safety net, but then bounced out and broke my pelvis in three places."
As a result of her experience she spoke to everyone who went on the ride to warn them about the dangers.
"I told them what had happened to me and told them to make sure it was something they really wanted to do," she said.
"I made sure they realised this was a very, very dangerous thing to do," she told the inquest.
Dino was treated at the scene after his fatal "jump" and airlifted to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he died.
The inquest, which is due to last for five days, continues.
Student launched from catapult died after missing safety net
The Scottsman | 1 Nov 05
A UNIVERSITY student died after being hurled 100ft through the air by a medieval-style "trebuchet" catapult, an inquest heard yesterday.
Kostydin Yankov, 19, an Oxford University student, suffered multiple injuries and serious spinal damage when he fell short of the safety net.
He was on a day trip with the extreme sports club, The Oxford Stunt Factory, to Bridgwater, Somerset, in November 2002 when tragedy struck.
A jury at Taunton Coroner's Court in Somerset heard that Kostydin - Dino to his friends - was the fifth person to be "fired" by the device on the day of his death. All four people who went before him landed at the nearest end of the safety net.
Oliver Nelkin, a fellow member of the Stunt Factory, said he was "very anxious" about their safety after seeing the previous four land so close to the edge.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Nelkin said: "The first guy to be shot landed on the net, but right on the edge of it. It seemed like he was going far too slowly, too low, to even make it. It looked like there wasn't enough energy to get him there."
Mr Nelkin said other members of the group had commented on how close the others had been to the edge of the net.
"After that jump, I heard other members of the club say that they were very anxious they landed too close to the edge," said Mr Nelkin.
"Dino went out of my view for a short while and then I saw him coming down. He was in a ball and clipped the edge of the net.
"Then I heard a thump and he landed on the ground below. I knew immediately that something had gone wrong."
The machine was designed and built in April 2000 by David Aitkenhead, 46, and Richard Wicks, 34, both founder members of the Dangerous Sports Club. Last year they stood trial for manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court over Dino's death, but were cleared when the judge threw out the case because of a lack of evidence.
The device is based on the trebuchets used in medieval times to hurl rocks and dead animals over castle walls during sieges. It uses a tonne of lead weight to give a see-saw effect and propel volunteers hundreds of feet into the air. Mr Aitkenhead and Mr Wicks charged thrill-seekers £40 a ride at a field in Woolavington, near Bridgwater.
The prototype was built in Mr Aitkenhead's garden in 1998 and tested by Mr Wicks's partner, Stella Young, who broke her pelvis after bouncing out of the net.
She told the hearing yesterday: "This was the prototype which they both made together. I was one of the first people to try it. I bounced into the safety net, but then bounced out and broke my pelvis in three places."
As a result of her experience she spoke to everyone who went on the ride to warn them about the dangers.
"I told them what had happened to me and told them to make sure it was something they really wanted to do," she said.
"I made sure they realised this was a very, very dangerous thing to do," she told the inquest.
Dino was treated at the scene after his fatal "jump" and airlifted to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he died.
The inquest, which is due to last for five days, continues.
Sweet! You gotta launch yourself a bit too for sure.
