Draft:Jon Desborough
Jon Desborough (1972 – 10 June 1999) was a British geography and physical education teacher at Liverpool College. He tragically died from complications following a javelin accident on 17 May 1999, during an athletics session at the school. The blunt end of a javelin struck him in the eye while he was retrieving it. Despite undergoing surgery and being in a coma for several weeks, Desborough passed away on 10 June 1999 due to a chest infection.[1]
Accident and Death
Desborough was demonstrating the safe retrieval of javelins to students when he lost his footing and fell. The blunt end of the javelin pierced his eye, and he was immediately rushed to the hospital. He remained in a coma for three weeks as doctors worked to stabilize him, but the severity of his injuries and subsequent complications led to his death.[2]
Legacy
Desborough’s death prompted discussions about the safety measures in place for school athletics, especially concerning the use of javelins. His widow, Valerie Desborough, advocated for a nationwide ban on javelins in schools, emphasizing the importance of preventing similar accidents in the future. In response, many schools reviewed their safety protocols for handling dangerous sports equipment.[3]
References
- ^ "Bravery of teacher speared in the eye with a javelin". The Free Library. 1999.
- ^ "Widow calls for school ban on javelins after teacher killed". The Free Library. 1999.
- ^ "Teacher hit by javelin dies". The Independent. 1999.