Child suffers severe head injuries after basketball hoop falls at Iecava skatepark

A child suffered severe head injuries on 6 November at around 5 p.m. when a basketball hoop fell on them at a skatepark in Iecava, a town in Bauska municipality, Latvia. The child was taken to the Children's Clinical University Hospital in Riga (BKUS), where surgery was performed. Following the incident, the local authority ordered safety checks at all sports and recreation grounds in the municipality.

The child's mother, Līga, described the events on Facebook in a group for residents of Iecava town and parish. According to her, the child was playing with a ball together with other children when the hoop fell. Emergency medical services were called to the scene. She thanked the child's friend, who reacted to the situation and contacted her.

Extent of the injuries

The mother says the child has a shattered skull, damage to the brain and its membranes, and a serious cheekbone injury. There is also a risk of partial facial paralysis. She acknowledged that the incident could have ended fatally and said she hopes there will be no lasting health problems.

Questions over safety

The mother urged parents to discuss the safety risks with their children and to warn them to stay away from the basketball hoops at the skatepark. She asked publicly who is responsible for securing the hoops and ensuring their safety, and noted that adults too tend to hang from the rim during games, so the structures should be safe.

The municipality has reviewed CCTV recordings. They show the child jumping up, catching on the hoop's net and pulling the structure down onto themselves. Municipality representative Jānis Kalinka told Latvian Television that the child's own actions caused the accident, but the check of the hoop's technical condition is still under way.

The portable hoops were purchased in 2017 and were fitted with counterweights for stability. After the accident they were cordoned off and later removed. The municipality has promised to publish the results of the inspections, while the child's parents have said they will approach the responsible authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.