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Sledge death leads to safety call Sledge death leads to safety call
(41 minutes later)
A coroner has recommended safety measures at a South Yorkshire country park after hearing how a 16-year-old girl died in a sledging accident there. A coroner has recommended safety measures at a South Yorkshire country park after hearing how a 16-year-old girl died in a sledging accident.
Francesca Anobile, 16, died when the improvised sledge she was travelling on careered through a wire fence at Rother Valley Country Park in February. Francesca Anobile, 16, died when the improvised sledge she was on careered through a wire fence at Rother Valley Country Park in February.
Rotherham coroner Nicola Mundy said either the park's slope should be closed or the fence never rebuilt.Rotherham coroner Nicola Mundy said either the park's slope should be closed or the fence never rebuilt.
She recorded a verdict of accidental death at Francesca's inquest.She recorded a verdict of accidental death at Francesca's inquest.
The inquest heard the teenager's sledge crashed through the wire fence after sliding 650ft (200m) down the steep slope at speeds of up to 60mph.The inquest heard the teenager's sledge crashed through the wire fence after sliding 650ft (200m) down the steep slope at speeds of up to 60mph.
Brain injuries Francesca, of Mosborough, Sheffield, and four friends used an upturned Land Rover roof to go down the slope, a popular sledging location.
Francesca, of Mosborough, Sheffield, and four friends used an upturned Land Rover roof to go down the slope, which is a popular sledging location. I was with her, comforted her, spoke to her all the way through. She was never, ever on her own David Mills, witness
The coroner heard the girls found the piece of metal, dragged it to the top of the hill and got on. It crashed through the wire fence, which had been put up in 2006 to keep sheep out of an area used for archery.
The slope is a popular sledging location in the winter
Witnesses described how the improvised sledge set off at such a speed that everyone on the hillside stopped to watch.
After 650ft it crashed through the wire fence, which had been put up in 2006 to keep sheep out of an area used for archery.
As the sledge hit the fence, Francesca was thrown off and suffered serious brain injuries from which she later died.As the sledge hit the fence, Francesca was thrown off and suffered serious brain injuries from which she later died.
The sledge continued for another 230ft (70m) before it smashed into a more substantial wooden fence, injuring the other girls, some seriously.The sledge continued for another 230ft (70m) before it smashed into a more substantial wooden fence, injuring the other girls, some seriously.
The coroner said she would be writing to the chief executive of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which operates the park, to recommend safety measures. Ms Mundy said she would write to the chief executive of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which operates the park, to recommend safety measures.
She said the slope should either be closed to the public or steps should be taken to make sure that the wire fence, which has since been removed, is never reinstated. The coroner said the slope should either be closed to the public or steps should be taken to make sure that the wire fence, which has since been removed, is not reinstated.
Staff 'unaware'
She said the accident was caused by a combination of factors, including the length of the slope, the weight of the girls and the roof and the compactness of the snow.
Ms Mundy said that if the wire fence was reinstated it would "expose further members of the public to risk of serious injury, if not death".
Earlier, the inquest heard from David Mills, who was also sledging that day.
The slope is a popular sledging location in the winter
He said a young girl in his party was sliding down on a polystyrene body board and became so terrified by the speed she was travelling at he was forced to "rugby tackle" her before she hit the wire fence.
After giving evidence he turned to Francesca's parents, Donato and Joanne, and told them he was with their daughter from the moment of the crash until she was taken to hospital by the air ambulance.
"I was with her, comforted her, spoke to her all the way through," he said.
"She was never, ever on her own."
After the inquest, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "How the park was managed was not found to be at fault in relation to the accident."
The HSE said it was "clear" staff at the park were unaware the Land Rover roof had been brought to the site and was being used as a sledge.
In a statement, the council said it was "saddened and shocked" by Francesca's death.
It said: "The council co-operated fully with the subsequent investigation and is satisfied that it has properly managed the open spaces within the Rother Valley Country Park."
The council said it would "take advice" on the coroner's recommendations and "respond appropriately".