Student, critically injured during hammer throw event in Kerala athletic meet, dies

Apheel Johnson, who was a volunteer in the State Junior Athletic Championship in nearby Pala on October 4, was struck when one of the competitors threw the hammer, a heavy iron ball.

Kottayam (Kerala): A students of class 11th, who suffered a serious head injury after being accidentally hit during a hammer throw event early this month, died at a government medical college hospital here on Monday.

• Apheel Johnson, who was a volunteer in the State Junior Athletic Championship in nearby Pala on October 4, was struck when one of the competitors threw the hammer, a heavy iron ball.
• A student of the St Thomas Higher Secondary School, Johnson was taken to the government medical college hospital here, where emergency surgery was performed.
• He died on Monday afternoon as he was being treated in the intensive care unit, doctors said.

His body will be handed over to relatives after the autopsy, they said.

A three-member committee has been formed by the Kerala government to probe the incident.

Former physical education director of Kerala University KK Venu, former athletics coach of Sports Authority of India MB Sathyanandan and Arjuna awardee V Diju are the members of the panel.

Apheelwas struck when one of the competitors threw the hammer while he was reportedly removing a javelin from one side of the stadium.

He belonged to a poor family in Moonnilavu in Erattupetta in the district.