17-YEAR-OLD KERALA STUDENT HIT BY HAMMER DURING JUNIOR ATHLETICS MEET DIES 

In a sad and shocking case, a student volunteer, who was critically injured during the 63rd Kerala State Junior Athletics Meet in Pala passed away on Monday at the Kottayam Medical College where he was receiving treatment. 

The deceased has been identified as Apheel Johnson, who was injured on October 4 at the Municipal Stadium in Pala. He was struck by the hammer thrown by one of the competitors.

The hammer was nothing less than 3-kgs that fell on his head during the Sports Meet. He was immediately admitted to the critical care unit where he underwent two surgeries.

According to Indian Express report, Johnson was running on the field to collect a javelin that had fallen nearby when the incident took place. It was later known that the finishing point of the javelin and hammer throw was the same spot. 

Johnson, was a student of St Thomas Higher Secondary School in Pala. During his treatment, he was taken off the ventilator once his condition improved but after few days  he was put on life support as his condition deteriorated.

Johnson’s family prayed for his recovery but seems like his internal organs stopped functioning.