logo
Student killed by weight machine at gym

Student killed by weight machine at gym

Telegraph26-03-2025

A medical student was killed when the bar of a gym weight machine struck his head, an inquest heard.
Mohammed Farraj, 21, had been using an exercise step to perform calf raises with a Smith machine at the University of East Anglia in Norwich on Oct 16 2024.
Det Sgt Robert Waring said a Smith machine was a 'horizontal barbell which runs vertically up and down on rails'. The step was not part of the machine.
He said the incident at the Sportspark gym was captured on CCTV.
'It's clear from watching the footage that this was a tragic accident,' he said.
He said the plastic step Farraj was using was 'seen to tip towards him'. He said the bar then 'drops' and 'forces his neck to the ground'.
Set of adjustable stops
Det Sgt Waring said a safety feature on the machine was a set of adjustable stops which 'should be set to the highest position possible' to stop the weight bar.
He said they had been 'left in the very lowest position'.
The plastic step was 'intended for a different purpose' and a weight plate could have been used instead, he added.
Witness Dr Trey Koev, a research scientist at UEA, said: 'I saw him slip onto the platform. The bar carrying the weight came down.'
He said Mr Farraj 'struggled to his feet very rapidly then tumbled, then both my gym partner and I rushed to him as we were the closest to him'.
Dr Koev said there had been red-coloured weights on either end of the bar indicating 25kg each and the bar weighed approximately 15kg, a total weight of 65kg.
Dr Damian Laba, Dr Koev's gym partner, said he was using the bench press when he heard a bang, 'stood up and turned round and saw Mohammed collapsing on the floor'.
Dr Laba, a consultant anaesthetist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: 'I realised this is potentially a life-threatening injury and I shouted for help.'
Warning not on machine
He added that he tried CPR but Mr Farraj died at the scene.
Benjamin Price, head of sports operations at UEA Sportspark, said: 'It appears Mohammed followed another person who had been using that equipment.
'It appears they had put the stops at the lowest level.'
A warning about the stops had not been on the Smith machine at the time but was now in place, Mr Price said.
Hashim Farraj, the victim's father. said his son was a devout Muslim and 'loved life'.
He grew up at the family home in Stoke-on-Trent, was part of a boxing club and 'took his fitness and his health very seriously. He liked to go to the gym and would run 10k in the morning on a regular basis,' he said.
Norfolk assistant coroner Johanna Thompson concluded that Mr Farraj's death was an accident. She extended her condolences to his family and friends.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Country singer Conner Smith fatally strikes 77-year-old woman with his truck in crosswalk, police say
Country singer Conner Smith fatally strikes 77-year-old woman with his truck in crosswalk, police say

NBC News

time13 hours ago

  • NBC News

Country singer Conner Smith fatally strikes 77-year-old woman with his truck in crosswalk, police say

Country singer Conner Smith was involved in a car accident in Nashville Sunday night that left a 77-year-old woman dead, police said. Smith was driving his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck on 3rd Avenue North when he struck Dorothy Dobbins as she was walking in a crosswalk, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a news release. The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. CT. Dobbins, who lived nearby, was taken to the hospital, where she died. Smith's attorney confirmed to The Tennessean that the 24-year-old singer "was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life." "His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation," attorney Worrick G. Robinson said. Authorities said preliminary findings indicate that Smith failed to yield the right of way to the pedestrian. He did not show any signs of impairment, police said. No charges have been filed. Smith, a Nashville native, is signed to Big Machine Records' Valory label. He released his debut studio album "Smoky Mountains" last year.

Country star Conner Smith, 24, ‘struck & killed elderly woman, 77, as she was crossing road'
Country star Conner Smith, 24, ‘struck & killed elderly woman, 77, as she was crossing road'

Scottish Sun

time20 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Country star Conner Smith, 24, ‘struck & killed elderly woman, 77, as she was crossing road'

His lawyer has spoken out about the accident tragic collision Country star Conner Smith, 24, 'struck & killed elderly woman, 77, as she was crossing road' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COUNTRY star Conner Smith allegedly struck and killed an elderly woman as she was crossing the road. The artist was driving his Chevrolet Silverado truck when the accident happened in Nashville on Sunday night. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Conner Smith has been accused of colliding into a woman while she was crossing the road Credit: Getty The victim has been identified as Dorothy Dobbins, 77. He has been accused of not giving way to her while she was crossing the road, according to cops in Nashville. He has not yet been charged with any crime. "On June 8th, Mr. Smith was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life," his lawyer told TMZ. read more on ents ICON GONE Sly and the Family Stone singer Sly Stone dead at 82 after long health battle "His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time. "Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation." Sources told TMZ he was not distracted by his phone. They also revealed he was not under the influence. Smith is signed to Big Machine Records - the label that was founded in 2005. Big Machine Records was bought by Scooter Braun's firm, Ithaca Holdings, in 2019. Big Machine Records is Taylor Swift's former record label and Scooter bought it in a deal worth $300 million. Smith rose to prominence when he released the track I Hate Alabama, which surged on TikTok. It was that particular track that helped him secure the deal with Big Machine Records. In 2023, he released the song Creek Will Rise, which reached 89 in the US music charts. It reached number 12 in the US Country Airplay charts, which are released weekly by Billboard. He was nominated in the New Male Artist of the Year category ahead of last year's ACM Awards. The accident happened just weeks after he released his song Country in the Clouds. Smith is yet to comment on the accident. On Monday, he shared pictures of himself on stage in front of his fans in Nashville. "Hometown hits different," he captioned the social media post. 2 He was not under the influence, sources close to the star revealed Credit: Getty More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

Alleged sword attacker ‘smiled' after slashing man in the neck, court hears
Alleged sword attacker ‘smiled' after slashing man in the neck, court hears

Glasgow Times

timea day ago

  • Glasgow Times

Alleged sword attacker ‘smiled' after slashing man in the neck, court hears

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, is on trial accused of murdering schoolboy Daniel Anjorin and attempting to kill four others during a 20-minute rampage in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year. He denies the charges. On Monday, jurors were shown CCTV of the first alleged attack, which showed Monzo's grey Ford Transit mounting the pavement and hitting Donato Iwule, a Co-op security guard on his way to work. Footage captured Mr Iwule screaming in agony as he was struck by the van before it collided with a house. Monzo is then seen exiting the vehicle and walking after him while brandishing a sword. Giving evidence, Mr Iwule said: 'I thought I was dying.' He told the court he tried to escape into a nearby garden but was struck on his knee, face and shoulder and knocked to the ground. Marcus Arduini Monzo (Elizabeth Cook/PA) He said Monzo got out of the van, pulled a sword from a cover 'right in front of my face' and threw the cover aside. 'I said 'I don't know you'… I said it multiple times,' Mr Iwule told prosecutor Tom Little KC. 'He said 'I don't care – I'm going to kill you'.' Mr Iwule said he tried to defend himself and raised his arms but Monzo swung the sword, catching him on the neck. 'I saw blood coming out of my neck,' he said. 'I pressed my thumb to not bleed out… I shouted 'God is greatest' in Arabic – because I'm Muslim. 'When that happened, he was smiling like it was something that he was happy about.' Mr Iwule said Monzo became distracted and he jumped over a fence to escape, later shouting at a schoolboy, believed to be Daniel, to go back inside. Under cross-examination, Mr Iwule said he was standing upright when he was struck and could clearly hear Monzo say he was going to kill him. Last week jurors heard how Monzo had skinned and deboned his own cat before carrying out the alleged attacks, and was under the influence of cannabis that may have led to drug-induced psychosis. However, the prosecution says this does not amount to diminished responsibility. Mitchell Hayes, a witness who was also on his way to work at the Co-op, said he saw the van 'going faster, slowing down, going faster' before the collision. He said he later heard screaming, saw the driver walk around the van and then get back in and reverse away, appearing to hold what looked like a sword. Mr Hayes said he stayed with Mr Iwule, who was holding his neck and bleeding, for 10 to 15 minutes before becoming aware of another incident nearby. He said another colleague, Nathan Hutchinson, began shouting that the attacker had a sword and they saw a body on the other side of the road. 'He was running around with it like a maniac,' Mr Hayes said of the man he believed to be Monzo. Monzo has admitted possessing two swords but denies murder, attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article. The trial continues.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store