Hacker Speak

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has finally come out clean from the suspicion of negligence and mismanagement of Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, where an accident of four teenagers this February led to much outcry among the public. The case was being investigated by South Yorkshire Police and the HSE. However, the authorities have concluded their investigation and decided that no further action was needed in the case.

The accident had led to the death of Francesca Anobile and serious injuries to three of her friends. The deceased and her friends are said to have been sledging in the park after the area had witnessed the heaviest snowfall of the year. They were making use of the roof of a Land Rover as a sledge down a long grass ski slope that was not being used at that time. The mishap occurred when their “sledge” ran into a stock control fence that had been set up in the beginning of last year. Francesca was thrown out of the sledge and suffered grievous head injuries. It has been reported that the group was sledging at a speed of over 50 miles.

The enquiry conducted by the HSE primarily focussed on ascertaining whether the Council was negligent in the safety management of the place and was in any way responsible for the accident, as it was aware of the fact that the park was being used by the group. However, the investigation suggested that the authorities had done their best to ensure the safety of anyone who would use the park.

Chris Chambers, HM Inspector of Health and Safety, added that the staff was completely unaware of the fact that a Land Rover roof had been brought to the park and was being used as a sledge. The accident has been attributed to the slope as well as to the weight of the sledge, and to the use of an equipment that was not meant for sledging.

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